South Carolina Set for Sweet 16 Showdown Against Maryland

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 2-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks are gearing up for their 11th consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, facing off against the No. 17-ranked Maryland Terrapins on Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m. ET in Birmingham, Alabama. The matchup will air nationally on ESPN.

The Gamecocks (32-3) advanced to this stage following a convincing 64-53 victory over No. 9 seed Indiana, adding to their prior first-round triumph over No. 16 Tennessee Tech, which they won 108-48.

Excitement builds as South Carolina’s Raven Johnson looks to become a key player in this matchup, needing just six assists to enter the program’s top-10 list in career assists, even in her third season.

The long-standing rivalry sees the Gamecocks leading the all-time series against the Terrapins at 6-2, including a 5-1 record under head coach Dawn Staley and a perfect 1-0 in NCAA Tournament history. The teams last faced each other in the early 2023-24 season, where South Carolina dominated with a 114-76 win in Columbia. In that game, the Gamecocks surged in the second quarter, taking control after an even first quarter, and they outscored Maryland by 20 points in the fourth.

Staley’s squad demonstrated their prowess at neutral sites, holding a 177-96 record all-time (.648). Staley herself boasts a 94-27 record in neutral games and a stellar 59-17 postseason record.

This season, South Carolina has proven formidable against other Sweet 16 teams, boasting a 10-3 record against 10 of the other 15 participating squads. They faced 16 of the full field of 68 and hold a 17-3 record against those opponents.

Against ranked teams during Staley’s tenure (since 2008), South Carolina has a 129-70 record (.648). However, the team’s performance has notably improved since 2014-15, accumulating a 114-31 record against ranked opponents (.786). This season, the Gamecocks lead the nation with 12 wins over ranked teams, showcasing their ability to compete at the highest levels.

The Gamecocks currently stand tied for the fourth-most ranked wins in program history, with this season’s accomplishments nearing records set in previous years. In particular, the 2021-22 national championship team’s record of defeating 12 ranked opponents remains a high watermark for the program.

The stakes are high as South Carolina prepares for its matchup against Maryland, aiming to leverage their strong season and advance further in the tournament.