Aliyah Boston's encouragement helps South Carolina basketball freshman in March Madness

COLUMBIA — Freshman forward Ashlyn Watkins was anxious when she stepped onto the court for her first NCAA Tournament game with South Carolina women's basketball. After she missed her first two free throws and first two field goal attempts, the nerves only intensified.

Gamecocks star Aliyah Boston checked in in the second quarter, seconds after Watkins missed a jump shot, and she made a beeline for the 6-foot-3 freshman. The senior recognized immediately what her young teammate needed to hear.

"I just told her that she's OK and to take her time — and when she misses, don't foul," Boston said. "Ash, if she wants to get something back, she's going to try and go get the ball ... As a freshman, this is your first March Madness and it can be overwhelming, but honestly I think she's doing a great job ... I've been in that same position, especially as a post. Everybody's coming at you when you have the ball."

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After Boston's encouragement, Watkins immediately grabbed an offensive rebound, got a steal off of her own missed shot and made a fast-break layup to give the No. 1 Gamecocks (33-0) a 14-point lead over Norfolk State (26-7). South Carolina went on to earn a dominant 72-40 victory over the Spartans.

South Carolina advances to face 8-seed South Florida (27-6) in the second round on Sunday (1 p.m., ABC). The Bulls beat 9-seed Marquette 67-65 in overtime.

Watkins shined defensively against Norfolk State with four rebounds, three blocks and two steals on top of her five points, but it was sophomore forward Sania Feagin who brought a dominant performance on offense. Feagin, who averages just eight minutes per game, came off the bench in the third quarter to hit 80% from the field for nine points. She was the team's third-highest scorer and most accurate shooter.

"I just tried to get them in the game with some of our older players to give them some experience," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "I want some of our young post players to get experience playing in big games and to have them be counted on ... It's going to take more than what they did today for us to be successful next year."

Feagin's breakout on the March Madness stage wasn't a surprise to Boston. She said the 6-foot-3 sophomore's performance reflected everything the team has seen from her behind the scenes.

"It's her consistency in practice," Boston said. "This past week since the SEC Tournament, Sania has been really dominant, really vocal. She's been a great leader, and I think it's all coming together for her. It just looks really good because she's been working really hard."

Staley still wants more from Feagin though, especially on the other side of the ball. She said the sophomore's father Charles was sitting behind the Gamecocks' bench and had a choice suggestion for his daughter.

"Feagin can score, no doubt about that," Staley said. "But if you were on our side, you heard her father. Her father said 'Play some defense,' and I looked back at him and said you're absolutely right. That is the thing that is the hardest learning curve for her, but she's getting there. She understands, and I think she just needs a better commitment to it."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Aliyah Boston: South Carolina freshman helped in March Madness