MiLaysia Fulwiley is set to play against her former team, South Carolina, in the SEC Tournament semifinals. The LSU junior guard previously played for the Gamecocks. She’s hoping her familiarity with playing basketball in South Carolina will be an advantage.
Fulwiley’s Return to South Carolina
Fulwiley scored 22 points with eight assists in a 112-78 victory over Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The No. 4 seed Tigers (27-4) will now face No.1 seed South Carolina (30-2) in the semifinals. The game is scheduled for March 7.
“It feels good coming back here. I played here in high school, and it meant a lot to me,” Fulwiley said. “I won a lot of games here, it’s just great to be here. Plus, I get to see my family. It was nice, I always enjoy seeing them.”
Fulwiley was a standout guard at Keenan High School in Columbia.
Looking Ahead to the Semifinal
Fulwiley views the upcoming game as a fresh opportunity. “It’s the next game, it’s a new game for us,” Fulwiley said. “Same mindset, got to go out there and do what we need to do.”
Fulwiley won a national championship with South Carolina in 2024. She transferred to LSU less than a month after losing in the title game to UConn as a sophomore.
- Fulwiley leads the Tigers in scoring at 14.3 points per game.
Mulkey’s Confidence in Fulwiley
South Carolina defeated LSU 79-72 on Feb. 14 in Baton Rouge. In that game, Fulwiley scored six points. She went 1-of-8 from the field.
“I don’t remember that,” Fulwiley said. “I’m a new player. It’s a new mindset right now.”
LSU coach Kim Mulkey said she does not need to talk to Fulwiley about playing South Carolina. “Nope,” Mulkey said. “I won’t say anything to her. She’s excited to be home.”
Mulkey added, “She’s already played against them this year. So, she knows what to expect. We’ll just do film work, and go over all the ways we can beat South Carolina.”
Mulkey acknowledged Fulwiley’s dynamic style of play. “She’s going to make spectacular plays, then she might make a play that’ll have you wanting to pull your hair out the next minute. But you let her play.”
The Tigers will rely on film work to prepare for their match against South Carolina.