Dawn Staley honors HBCU program with gesture before NCAA Tournament clash Southern University secured its second NCAA Tournament victory in history on Thursday, and the historic HBCU institution received a heartfelt gesture from South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. The Hall of Fame coach, known for her advocacy for HBCU programs, took the time to personally acknowledge the Jaguars’ success before their matchup against South Carolina. Staley visited Southern University’s hotel in Columbia, South Carolina, where the team was staying ahead of their game against Samford. The Jaguars had just defeated Samford 65-58 in the NCAA Tournament First Four, and Staley’s appearance was a surprise to the players. Southern guard Demonnie Lagway shared her thoughts on the visit, emphasizing the significance of the moment. “She gave us our respect. She respects us and gave us our props — our credit,” Lagway said. Staley’s presence at the game further underscored her support for the HBCU program. She and her team watched from the stands as Southern University played, a gesture that resonated deeply with the players. Lagway expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating, “It feels good, it feels great. They’re our next opponent, so them being there to watch us felt good.” The respect extended beyond the game. After Southern University’s victory, Staley presented the team with a gift—a perfume—during a private moment in the team’s backroom. The players were told the gift’s origin, which sparked an emotional and enthusiastic reaction. The moment highlighted Staley’s commitment to elevating HBCU programs, a theme that has defined her career. For Southern University, the gesture was more than a token of appreciation. It symbolized recognition of the program’s growing presence in collegiate basketball.#ncaa_tournament #dawn_staley #southern_university #hbcu_program #demonnie_lagway
March Madness live updates, scores, bracket: Women's NCAA tournament First Four wraps up with Virginia and Southern advancing The final two First Four matchups in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament concluded on Thursday, securing the 64-team field for the upcoming tournament. In the Sacramento 4 region, Southern University and Samford faced off for the No. 16 seed, while Virginia and Arizona State contested for the No. 10 seed. The results of these games determined the final spots in the first-round bracket. Virginia advanced to face No. 7 seed Georgia after a hard-fought 57-55 victory over Arizona State. The Cavaliers overcame a late rally by the Sun Devils, who tied the game at 51-51 on a 3-pointer by Marley Washenitz with 41 seconds remaining. Kymora Johnson answered with a 3-pointer for Virginia, and the Cavaliers held off Arizona State’s attempts to tie the game. Washenitz led Arizona State with 19 points, while Johnson dominated for Virginia with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals. Caitlin Weimar added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Virginia. Southern University secured its spot in the tournament with a 65-53 win over Samford. The Jaguars will face No. 1 seed South Carolina on Saturday. Southern took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Samford 14-2 over the final seven minutes. Jaylia Reed and DeMya Porter each scored 15 points for Southern, with Porter grabbing 12 rebounds. Briana Rivera led Samford with 16 points, though the Bulldogs shot 36% from the field, including 8-of-27 on 3-pointers. Other developments from the First Four included No. 16 Missouri State and No. 11 Nebraska advancing to the 64-team field. Missouri State will face No. 1 seed Texas, while Nebraska will meet No. 6 seed Baylor.#virginia #arizona_state #samford #southern_university #ncaa_womens_basketball_tournament
Southern Women's Basketball Returns to March Madness Following SWAC Championship Victory BATON ROUGE - Southern women's basketball secured its return to March Madness after capturing the SWAC Tournament Championship for the second consecutive year, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Jags learned their tournament placement during a Selection Show watch party at TJ Ribs on Sunday night. The team was seeded No. 16 and will face Samford in the First Four round of the tournament. The matchup is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 in Columbia, South Carolina. If Southern advances past Samford, the Lady Jags would next encounter the No. 1 seed South Carolina in the subsequent round. This marks the program's second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, following their historic first win in 2023. Last season, Southern made its debut in the tournament by defeating UC San Diego 68-56 in the First Four, becoming the first SWAC team to secure a victory in the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Jags' success this year continues their momentum as they aim to build on their recent achievements.#ncaa_tournament #southern_university #swac_tournament_championship #samford #tj_ribs
