South Carolina dominates Southern in NCAA tournament opener with historic margin No. 1 seed South Carolina delivered a crushing 103-34 victory over 16th-seeded Southern in its NCAA tournament opener, marking the Gamecocks’ 17th consecutive home win in the women’s tournament. Joyce Edwards led the charge with 27 points and eight rebounds, showcasing her dominance as the team surged to a 15-0 start and never allowed Southern to mount a threat. The Gamecocks, ranked third in the nation, extended their Colonial Life Arena dominance to 83-1 over the past five seasons, while Southern, the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions, struggled to contain the high-powered attack. Edwards’ performance was a masterclass in efficiency, hitting 11 of 14 field goals and dominating the paint. Her ability to create space for teammates was evident in a highlight-reel play in the second half, where Ta’Niya Latson forced a turnover near midcourt, flipped the ball behind her back to Edwards, and the freshman converted an easy layup as the crowd erupted. “We missed being here. We hadn’t been here in a while,” said coach Dawn Staley, emphasizing the team’s focus on playing with joy and intensity. The Gamecocks’ dominance was immediate, opening the game with a 15-0 run and building a 25-point lead by halftime. South Carolina outscored Southern 32-2 in the third quarter, cementing its control. Edwards acknowledged the team’s initial rust after a two-week layoff following the Southeastern Conference tournament, but the squad quickly adjusted, hitting key shots and executing plays with precision. “As a team, we got together and started hitting shots,” Edwards said, highlighting the team’s resilience.#south_carolina #dawn_staley #southwestern_athletic_conference #joyce_edwards #ta_niya_latson
Alabama A&M Heads to SWAC Tournament Quarterfinals Against Texas Southern The Alabama A&M University men’s basketball team will compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, facing Texas Southern at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, Ga. The Bulldogs, seeded fifth in the tournament, will take on the fourth-seeded Tigers in a 2 p.m. contest broadcast on ESPN+. The matchup marks the first meeting between the teams this season, though they crossed paths once during the regular season. In a game on January 24 in Houston, Texas, Texas Southern staged a dramatic comeback, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the second half to secure an 89-74 victory. Alabama A&M enters the tournament with a 17-14 record, having lost three of its last four games. The Bulldogs’ regular-season finale ended in a 88-85 loss to Southern at the AAMU Event Center on March 5. Texas Southern, with a 12-17 record, closed its regular season with two consecutive wins, falling to Prairie View A&M in their final game. The tournament seeding includes Bethune-Cookman as the No. 1 seed, Florida A&M as the No. 2 seed, and Southern as the No. 3 seed. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the sixth seed, with Jackson State and Prairie View A&M ranked seventh and eighth, respectively. Grambling State is the ninth seed, and Alabama State is the 10th. Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State round out the bracket as the 11th and 12th seeds. The Bulldogs’ path to the tournament included a first winning season in 21 years, highlighted by key performances from players like Davis and Graham. Despite recent setbacks, Alabama A&M aims to build on its momentum in the postseason.#gateway_center_arena #texas_southern #alabama_a_m #southwestern_athletic_conference #atlanta_ga
