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No. 1 South Carolina Cruises in NCAA Tournament Opener
Gamecocks dominate Southern in first-round blowout win
Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:10am
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The top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks routed Southern University 103-34 in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament's Sacramento Region 4. Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks with 27 points as five South Carolina players scored in double figures. The Gamecocks shot 54.7% from the field and outrebounded Southern 57-33.
Why it matters
South Carolina is the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and is looking to win its second national championship. The lopsided victory over Southern showcases the Gamecocks' dominance and sets them up for a matchup with the winner of Southern Cal-Clemson in the second round.
The details
The Gamecocks jumped out to a 23-6 lead early in the second quarter and then outscored Southern 32-2 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. South Carolina made 8 three-pointers, matching Southern's total, and had a huge 57-33 rebounding advantage. Joceyln Tate had 10 points and 8 rebounds for Southern, but the Jaguars shot just 18.5% from the field and committed 20 turnovers.
- The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.
The players
Joyce Edwards
A South Carolina player who scored a game-high 27 points in the win.
Joceyln Tate
A Southern University player who had 10 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, looking to win their second national championship.
Southern University Jaguars
The 20-14 team that lost to South Carolina in the first round of the tournament.
What’s next
South Carolina will face the winner of the Southern Cal-Clemson game in the second round on Monday.
The takeaway
South Carolina's dominant performance over Southern University showcases their status as the tournament's top overall seed and a favorite to win the national championship.
