Seed Southern Faces Top-Seeded South Carolina in NCAA First Round

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — The NCAA Tournament’s overall seed, the South Carolina Gamecocks, begin their national title pursuit Saturday against a surging Southern University squad making its first appearance in the Big Dance since 2021.

The first-round matchup in the Albany 1 Regional tips off at 2 p.m. EDT at Colonial Life Arena.

South Carolina (31-3), the SEC Tournament runner-up, enters as a heavy favorite, boasting a perfect 15-0 record at home this season. The Gamecocks’ only losses came against ranked opponents, most recently a 78-61 defeat to then-Texas on March 8. They are powered by a deep, balanced lineup led by All-SEC guard Raven Johnson. The senior is averaging 14.2 points and 6.1 assists over her last seven games, including a 22-point, 8-assist performance in an SEC Tournament win over LSU.

Southern (20-13), champion of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, rides a four-game winning streak into its toughest test of the season. The Lady Jaguars, who have not faced a ranked opponent this year, last played on Thursday, defeating Samford 65-53 in a First Four game in Columbia.

Guard Jaylia Reed led Southern with 16 points in that victory and has been a key catalyst during the team’s late-season run. Over her last 10 games, the junior is averaging 9.8 points, including a 16-point outing against Samford and a 14-point performance against Bethune-Cookman.

The Gamecocks, under coach Dawn Staley, dominate statistically, ranking in the top five nationally in scoring margin, rebounding margin and field goal percentage defense. Southern will counter with a defense that held SWAC opponents to an average of 54.2 points during its conference tournament run.

History heavily favors the home team. South Carolina has won 29 consecutive NCAA Tournament games at Colonial Life Arena, a streak dating to 2013. Southern is 0-3 all-time against the Gamecocks, with the most recent meeting a 90-43 South Carolina victory in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

The winner will advance to face either seed Florida State or seed Princeton in the second round on Monday.