South Carolina Cruises to NCAA Tournament Win Over Southern

No. 1 seed Gamecocks win 17th straight home tournament game

Mar. 21, 2026 at 7:19pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Joyce Edwards scored 27 points and grabbed 8 rebounds as the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks easily defeated 16th-seeded Southern 103-34 in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina.

Why it matters

South Carolina is one of the top women's basketball programs in the country, having won the national championship in 2017 and 2022. The Gamecocks are expected to make a deep run in this year's tournament as well, and this lopsided victory over an overmatched opponent shows they are rounding into form at the right time.

The details

The Gamecocks jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 69 points in the second half. In addition to Edwards' big game, Aliyah Boston had 15 points and 12 rebounds for South Carolina, which shot 55% from the field and forced 22 Southern turnovers.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Joyce Edwards

A senior forward for the South Carolina Gamecocks, she led the team with 27 points and 8 rebounds in the win.

Aliyah Boston

A junior center for the South Carolina Gamecocks, she had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We came out focused and ready to play our game. It was a great team effort and we're excited to keep this momentum going.”

— Joyce Edwards, South Carolina Forward

What’s next

South Carolina will face the winner of the matchup between 8th-seeded Florida State and 9th-seeded Gonzaga in the second round on Monday.

The takeaway

South Carolina's dominant win over Southern showcases their depth and talent, and reinforces their status as one of the top contenders to win the women's national championship this year.