‘I’m so happy to be here’: Alicia Tournebize finding comfort on court with Gamecocks
South Carolina advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals after a big 87-64 win over Kentucky on Friday.
The Gamecocks were led by big performances by Joyce Edwards (21 points), Madina Okot (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Tessa “Tournament Tessa” Johnson (15 points).
Perhaps lost in the shuffle of the 26-point win was the SEC Tournament debut of South Carolina’s mid-season addition: French forward Alicia Tournebize.
Tournebize’s numbers from the win don’t exactly jump off the page, but they’re indicative of her role during her freshman year. She scored three points and brought in two rebounds but played 14 minutes, which was near a career high.
“I try to do my best at what I can do, and I do that for the team,” Tournebize said after the game.
Life has likely been a whirlwind for Tournebize these past three months.
The 6-foot-7 forward signed with South Carolina back on Dec. 22. Tournebize then enrolled early and landed in Columbia on New Year’s Day.
Tournebize made her debut with the Gamecocks two weeks later on Jan. 15, when South Carolina battled Texas at home in Colonial Life Arena.
“It’s been great,” Tournebize said, speaking to the media for the first time since her arrival. “I’m so happy to be here. So grateful. Everything is new, especially the tournament and stuff. … This month has been really great. Everyone was really welcoming to me.”
If you ask Tournebize whom she’s leaned on for support during her transition to a new team in a new country, she can’t single out just one person. She said she’s received support from all of her teammates, especially South Carolina’s seniors.
“When I got here everybody was helping me and I could reach out to everybody if I needed,” Tournebize said. “Raven … Ta’Niya too. Madina helped me too because she knows how it’s like to come from another country and stuff. The seniors — Maryam too. Maryam helped me a lot.”
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has said multiple times that part of why Tournebize considered playing for USC was the opportunity to join the team and play right away.
Tournebize is currently averaging 11.7 minutes per game. That mark may be second to last on the team, but it’s relatively normal for a mid-year addition. For example, Chloe Kitts averaged 6.9 minutes per game during her freshman year, when she enrolled midway through the season.
“It was nice,” Tournebize said of playing right away. “I needed obviously a little bit of adjustment because it was a new team and in the middle of the season. It was a good opportunity for me. I’m happy.”
Tournebize is averaging 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 14 appearances this season. Arguably her best game of the season came when she notched a career-high nine points and had three rebounds vs. Oklahoma. South Carolina’s veteran point guard said she’s seen plenty of growth from Tournebize in her few months in Columbia.
“She’s still learning our plays, our system, like it’s not easy to be here and just going out there and doing what she does, and the post,” Johnson said. “… We’ve had posts like Aliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, she’s the next up after that. Ali is a sponge. She wants to learn. She’s in the gym a lot with Coach Boyer, and I think they’re getting her right.”
Tournebize will likely be limited to spot minutes as South Carolina gets deeper into the post-season but the playing time she does get will be valuable for her future with the Gamecocks.
In the meantime, Tournebize said she’s comfortable on the court and has already learned plenty from Staley and her teammates.
“It’s great, I’ve learned lots from this team and thanks to her,” Tournebize said of Staley. “I’m really grateful. I’m so happy. The team, I think we can go far, we have big goals. I think we’re on the right way.”
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 3:58 PM.
