USC Dominates UNC Greensboro in NCAA First Round, 71-25

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The top-seeded Southern California Trojans easily defeated the 16th-seeded UNC Greensboro Spartans 71-25 in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament on Saturday at Galen Center. With the victory, USC improves to 29-3 and moves on to the second round, where they will face the winner of the matchup between California and Mississippi State on Monday.

Star guard JuJu Watkins led the Trojans with 22 points, playing through injuries sustained during the game. “Glad to get the first one out of the way,” said USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “We were a little bit rusty on offense.” Despite dealing with a hand injury early in the second quarter and later limping due to an ankle issue, Watkins managed to score crucial points for her team.

The Spartans started the game confidently, limiting USC to just 12 points in the first quarter. However, they soon faltered, with USC taking control in the second quarter to take a commanding lead at halftime, 28-11. USC continued to apply pressure, resulting in a dominant second half.

USC’s defense was a significant factor in their success, forcing eight turnovers and holding UNC Greensboro to a mere seven field goals for the entire game. The Trojans also accrued 17 steals, with Rayah Marshall leading the charge with seven. “Our defense is something we really take pride in, so when things aren’t going our way on one side of the floor, we really try to make it up,” Watkins commented.

A well-balanced scoring effort saw Kiki Iriafen contribute 13 points and 13 rebounds, enhancing the Trojans’ command over the game. In contrast, UNC Greensboro struggled offensively, with their standout player, guard Jayde Gamble, managing only three points. Spartans coach Trina Patterson reflected on her team’s efforts: “What we are really good at is defense. Thought we accomplished that today. Offensively, we didn’t hit the mark.”

The Spartans, making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance and first in 27 years, faced a tough road. After being crowned the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament champions, they entered the tournament full of hope but were unable to match USC’s offensive and defensive prowess.

As USC moved to the fourth quarter, they cleared the bench, allowing bench players like Aaliyah Gayles, a survivor of a shooting incident three years prior, to contribute to the team’s success. Gayles scored and helped maintain the Trojans’ lead. Meanwhile, UNC Greensboro set a series of season lows, including points scored and field goal percentage.

Fans in attendance witnessed USC’s deep bench come alive, illustrating the team’s strengths and depth. The Trojans, with established leaders and promising players, are setting their sights on a championship run as they prepare for the next round of the tournament.