How Maryam Dauda delivered with critical minutes in South Carolina’s Final Four win
Coaches in all sports preach a common theme: Be ready when your number is called. It’s a phrase repeated so often it’s become a cliche that’s arguably overused.
Yet, it still rings true for a player like Maryam Dauda.
South Carolina advanced to the national championship on Friday night after beating Texas 74-57 in the Final Four.
Dauda played 16 minutes in the win, tying her season high she set in the third game of the season against Coppin State.
“I’m super proud of her,” USC’s Te-Hina Paopao said. “She’s trusted her process, her journey and played great minutes today. She did a really good job on the post players today in her defense and offense and just being able to do what she does at such a high level and on a big platform.”
Dauda checked into the game midway through the first quarter, an unusual sight this season for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks were down 10-4 when she entered.
“We came in and we kind of started off slow, and I felt like I had to go in there and give my team a spark,” Dauda said. “And that’s what I did going in the first quarter.”
Dawn Staley’s game plan didn’t necessarily call for Dauda, who averages 6.2 minutes per game, coming into the matchup, to play that early. Part of Dauda’s earlier-than-usual appearance was due to both Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin being in early foul trouble.
She played the final five minutes of the first quarter and recorded two rebounds, one point and an assist while helping South Carolina cut the lead to 19-18 at the end of the period.
“She goes out there, she does exactly what she’s asked to do,” Kitts said. “She goes and plays hard.”
Dauda finished with four points, punctuated by a corner 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and three rebounds in the game.
Her plus/minus rating of 13 against Texas was the third-highest on the team.
“She’s got to keep that confidence going,” Paopao said. “It’s something new to her. But it’s something she’s doing great with. She just did a really great job today. She’s the MVP of the game today.”
It’s not the first time Dauda has made the most of her spot minutes in a win-or-go-home game. She did just that when South Carolina beat Oklahoma 93-75 in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.
Dauda was instrumental in keeping Raegan Beers’ impact on that March 8 game minimal. She played 12 minutes and recorded five points, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
“I just feel like I just have to stay ready,” Dauda said. “So whenever I do go in, I have to help my team. Just trusting myself, trusting my teammates and trusting my coach that they will put me in the right position at the right time to help the team win.”
The former Arkansas Razorback had never played in the NCAA Tournament before this season, let alone a Final Four. But you would’ve never known that on Friday night.
“It doesn’t even look like this is her first Final Four,” USC’s Raven Johnson said. “It looked like she’s been here several times. Just to see that from her — we need everybody on this team. She was so calm, she was so poised. It just looked like she’d been in this moment before. I’m so proud of her honestly, we need that from her.”
Dauda’s confidence has ebbed and flowed this season. Her role at South Carolina is a fraction of what it was at Arkansas — where she averaged 28.7 minutes and 10.1 points per game last year — but she’s found a way to persevere.
Knowing her play helped kick South Carolina back into gear on Friday and secure a Final Four victory makes her that much more excited for a shot at a national title.
“I feel like coming in when Coach Staley recruited me this was the vision all along,” Dauda said. “Just finally being here, I’m just excited. One more, let’s just go win it all.”
