BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Joyce Edwards and Toby Fournier lead their respective teams in scoring. As freshmen, that is a feat in itself. Normally, veterans carry their teams through the regular season and into the Big Dance.
However, you won’t hear Edwards' and Fournier’s names when the South Carolina and Duke starting lineups are announced Sunday.
In fact, the Gamecocks’ Edwards has only started one game this year.
Duke’s Fournier? Not one.
So many athletes yearn to be a starting player, especially for perennial powerhouses such as South Carolina and Duke. But for both of these high-scoring freshman forwards, just the chance to hit the court is enough.
“Whatever my team needs, it’s what I’m going to do,” said Fournier, who is averaging 13.1 points per game this season. “Everyone on our team is able to contribute in some sort of way, whether that’s coming off the bench or starting. It doesn’t really matter.”
Edwards’ only start this year was against NC State in November. She and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley do not discuss why she doesn’t start more often.
“We don’t have that conversation because it’s not something I’m necessarily interested in,” said Edwards, who leads the Gamecocks with 13 points per game. “You get the recognition and your name on the screen, but that’s really it.”
Thanks in large part to the efforts of Edwards and Fournier, South Carolina (41.5) and Duke (31.6) rank first and second in the NCAA in bench points per game. Especially as teams go deeper in March Madness, bench contributions become more critical.
“We understand how important it is,” said Edwards, a South Carolina native. “We understand how much we can contribute to the game, and it’s about trying to make that impact.”
Juniors and seniors on each team have taken notice of the countless hours of work Edwards, Fournier and other bench players put in.
“Without our bench, we don’t win,” Duke junior Ashlon Jackson said. “They continue to bring a spark and stay ready every single game.”
The spark from the freshmen forward phenoms is evidence that this game is not every woman for herself – but everyone for each other.
“The fact that you have two leading scorers coming off the bench means that everyone’s willing to come up and play,” Fournier said.
Abby Halpin is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In women's March Madness, South Carolina, Duke value freshmen scorers
