Women of Troy Continue NCAA Tournament Run Against No. 1 Seed South Carolina on Monday

Monday, March 23

Columbia, SC

5:00 p.m. PT

USC

South Carolina

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Jazzy Davidson drives past a defender on court

Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics

Women of Troy Continue NCAA Tournament Run Against No. 1 Seed South Carolina on Monday

March 22, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes Official Bracket

Trojans to face Gamecocks at 5 p.m. PT at Colonial Life Arena.

COLUMBIA, SC – No. 9 seed USC faces No. 1 seed and host South Carolina during the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday night at Colonial Life Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ESPN. The game is a rematch for the Trojans, who lost to the Gamecocks earlier this season and will look to flip the result on the road in postseason play.

This marks the 13th time in program history that USC has reached the
Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, continuing a strong postseason tradition for the Trojans.

A win would send USC to the Sweet 16 for the 13th time in program history, adding another milestone and keeping its tournament run alive.

SERIES RECORD: 0-4
LAST MEETING: L, 69-52 -- November 15, 2025 (Crypto Arena - Los Angeles, Calif.)
HEAD COACH: Dawn Staley (507-113)
CONFERENCE: Southeastern Conference
STREAK: L, 0-4
TV/STREAM: ESPN - Mike Monaco (PxP), Stephanie White (Color), Molly McGrath (Sideline)
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App

A WIN WOULD

Help USC improve to 37-17 in NCAA Tournament play (36-17 currently)
Be the 895th win in program history (894-579)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 112th win at USC (111-49)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 347th win as a head coach (346-178)
Help USC improve to 1-1 against SEC opponents this season
Help the Trojans advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the 13th time in program history and third time in three years.

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina won its NCAA First Round matchup over No. 16 seed Southern, 103-34 on Saturday, March 21
The Gamecocks are ranked No. 4 in the most recent AP Poll.
The Gamecocks won the SEC regular season title for the fifth straight season and the 10th time in the last 13 seasons
South Carolina has the fourth best scoring offense (3rd in SEC) with 86.3 points per game and scoring margin (3rd in SEC) with a difference of 28.4 points.
South Carolina is second in the SEC in field goal percentage at 50.7% and fourth overall.
On offense, the Gamecocks are led by Joyce Edwards who is averaging 19.8 points per game paired with 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Tessa Johnson leads the SEC with a 44.1 shooting percentage from three with 79 made shots from beyond the arc.
On the defensive side, South Carolina's leading rebounder, Madina Okot, is averaging 10.8 boards per game along with 52 blocks this season. Edwards is second on the team in blocks with 39 behind Okot and leads the team in steals with 61.
Okot leads the SEC and is fifth in the country in double doubles with 21.
South Carolina has held opponents to under 50 points 10 times in the 2025-26 season.

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

As a squad, USC is 8th nationally & leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (5.8) (174 total)
Jazzy Davidson wrapped the regular season leading USC outright in every major statistical category, including points (17.9), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.3), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.1), a feat unmatched by any other Division I player during the 2025-26 season.
Davidson has recorded 29 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 26 straight games since Nov. 18 through March 1. Davidson also has 14 20+ point performances this season (two 30+ performance) and seven out of the last nine scoring 20+.
Nationally, Davidson ranks 20th in blocks per game (2.00) and 23rd in total blocks (60), both second in the Big Ten. Davidson is the only player in Division 1 basketball averaging at least 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game.
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten & 21st nationally in field goal attempts at 497, 3rd amongst all D1 freshman.
Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26. Dunn posted her ninth 20+ point performance against Clemson on Saturday in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, posting 22 points.
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 139 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 31 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.3 percent from the charity stripe
R-FR Laura Williams has started the last nine games for the Trojans, averaging more than 8.0 RPG as a starter.

NCAA NOTES

USC is 36-17 in the NCAA Tournament, with two NCAA title victories (1983 and 1984).
The Trojans
This is the Trojans' 20th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
USC is making a fourth consecutive NCAA appearance for the first time since a five-year run from 1991-95.
The 2025 Women of Troy were selected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.
An automatic qualifier as Pac-12 Tournament champion in 2024, USC was a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA tourney for the first time since 1986, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 and falling to UConn.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament — UC Santa Barbara (2009), California (seven appearances in eight seasons) and USC (2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026).
USC has played 14 other teams in the 68-team field of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, including No. 1 seed UCLA , No. 1 seed UConn, No. 1 seed South Carolina, No. 2 seed Michigan, No. 2 seed Iowa, No. 3 seed Ohio State, No. 5 seed Maryland , No. 5 seed Michigan State, No. 4 seed Minnesota, No. 6 seed Washington, No. 6 seed Notre Dame, No. 7 seed NC State, No. 8 seed Oregon and No. 11 seed Nebraska.
USC is one of 10 Big Ten teams in this year's NCAA bracket.
8 Trojans have previously played in the NCAA Tournament - Vivian Iwuchukwu (1x), Rian Forestier (1x), Kara Dunn (1x Georgia Tech), Londynn Jones (3x), Yakiya Milton (1x), Kennedy Smith (1x), Brooklyn Shamblin (1x) and Malia Samuels (1x).

LAST TIME OUT

USC's win over Clemson marked the third-straight season the program has recorded an NCAA First Round win.
The 71-67 win was the program's first NCAA Tournament overtime victory. It was also USC's first NCAA Tournament overtime game since March 17, 2023 against South Dakota State.
OT win over Clemson was the first overtime game of the season for USC and first for the Trojans since March 8, 2024 (USC beat UCLA 80-70 in 2OT)
The Trojans are now 1-0 all-time against Clemson and 3-1 against ACC opponents this season.
With 31 points, FR Jazzy Davidson recorded her 29th double-figure performance of the season. Her 31 points are the most by a USC freshman in an NCAA Tournament game and the second most by a Trojan in NCAA Tournament history. Davidson also added six rebounds and five assists to contribute an extra 12 points.
Davidson is the first freshman with 30/5/5 in an NCAA Tournament debut in the last 25 years. She is also the fifth Trojan to record 20+, 5+ and 5+ assists in an NCAA Tournament game along with Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie and JuJu Watkins
SR Kara Dunn recorded 22 points with 11 in the fourth quarter
R-FR Laura Williams recorded three blocks on defense for the Trojans, marking her seventh game this season with three or more blocks.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT RECAP

USC fell 76-64 to [8] Washington UCLA on Thursday, March 5 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.
R-FR Laura Williams recorded 13 rebounds for her fourth double digit performance of the season. Williams also had a career high three assists and points made with 9 while adding two blocks.
SO Kennedy Smith had 14 points. Smith also contributed three assists and three steals
SR Londynn Jones led USC with 19 points, her most in conference play this season. Jones also had two rebounds and two assists and shot 8-for-9 from the charity stripe.
USC scored 14 points off 18 Husky turnovers
The Trojans led the Huskies in second chance points (19-10), fast break points (6-5) and bench points (8-7).
USC held Washington guard Sayvia Sellers to four points and zero made field goals (averaged 19.2 ppg entering today's contest)
USC outscored Washington 28-20 in the fourth quarter and converted six points off turnovers from the press

ALL THAT JAZZ

Davidson was named the National Freshman of the Year by The Athletic and received All-America Honorable Mention nods from the Associated Press and USBWA
After a record-setting regular season, USC freshman Jazzy Davidson was been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while also earning First-Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. Davidson was a unanimous First-Team selection for both the All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team, and was the lone freshman selected to both the All-Big Ten and All-Defensive Team.
ESPN named Davidson No. 1 in the March top 10 Freshman impact rankings. Davidson was also first at the midseason point and preseason.
Wrapped the regular season leading USC outright in every major statistical category, including points (17.9), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.3), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.1), a feat unmatched by any other Division I player during the 2025-26 season.
Davidson has recorded 29 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 26 straight games since Nov. 18 through March 1. Davidson also has 14 20+ point performances this season (two 30+ performance) and seven out of the last nine scoring 20+.
Nationally, Davidson ranks 20th in blocks per game (2.00) and 23rd in total blocks (60), both second in the Big Ten. Davidson is the only player in Division 1 basketball averaging at least 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game.
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten & 21st nationally in field goal attempts at 497, 3rd amongst all D1 freshman.
The newcomer put up 14 points (second leading scorer), had five rebounds, four assists, 1 steal and 1 block in her collegiate debut
Against NC State, Davidson put up 21 points, had five blocks, four assists, three steals and was perfect from the free throw line (2-2). Davidson delivered the winning basket in USC's victory over NC State as the freshman made a fast break driving layup with 8 seconds remaining in the game.
Davidson posted a breakthrough performance versus Tennessee Tech, recording her first double-double as she finished with 20 points (9-of-14 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 boards not only led all players but also marked the most by a USC freshman since Rayah Marshall's performance against Texas Southern on Dec. 18, 2021. Davidson also chipped in four assists and two blocks to round out the effort.
Against No. 21 Washington, Davidson notched her second career double-double with a game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
Against Cal, Davidson scored a then-career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her then-career best with three three-pointers.
At No. 20 Nebraska, Davidson scored 17 points and contributed five blocks, eight rebounds, three assists and 1 steal.
Davidson recorded her third double-double against Oregon, putting up 14 points, 13 rebounds (11 defensive), five assists, two blocks and two steals.
Against No. 8 Iowa on Jan. 29, the freshman delivered a complete performance with 21 points and eight assists, accounting for 40 total points. Davidson also added four rebounds, two steals and one block in USC's statement win at the Galen Center.
Against Illinois, Jazzy Davidson recorded a then-career-high 27 points, also contributing eight rebounds and eight assists against the Illini. With eight assits, Davidson contributed an additional 20 points, accounting for 47 against Illinois.
Davidson's strongest performance of the season came on the one of the biggest stage's, with the freshman recording 32 points against No. 10 Ohio State. She scored a team- and career-high 32 points (6-for-9 3PT, 4-for-6 FT), extending her double-figure streak to 24 games. She has posted 20+ points in five straight and 12 times this season. Her 32 points are the most by a Trojan this year and the first 30-point game for USC since Kiki Iriafen vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball (March 24, 2025). She is also the first USC freshman to score 30+ since JuJu Watkins vs. the UCLA Bruins women's basketball(March 8, 2024). Davidson added a career-high six made threes and matched her career best with 11 field goals.
Davidson made history during her NCAA Tournament debut, becoming the first freshman with 30/5/5 in an NCAA Tournament debut in the last 25 years. With 31 points, FR Jazzy Davidson recorded her 29th double-figure performance of the season. Her 31 points are the most by a USC freshman in an NCAA Tournament game and the second most by a Trojan in NCAA Tournament history. Davidson also added six rebounds and five assists to contribute an extra 12 points.

KENNEDY SMITH STEPS UP

Sophomore Kennedy Smith is second on the squad in steals per game (1.9)
Sophomore Kennedy Smith has stepped up for the Trojans this season under pressure, scoring in double figures against No. 21 Washington (13), No. 2 UConn (16), No. 20 Nebraska (17), No. 13 Michigan State (15), No. 8 Iowa (12), No. 10 Ohio State (18) and No. 2 UCLA (11).
Smith posted a then-season best 17 points against No. 20 Nebraska, also contributing nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal
Due to injury, Smith missed USC's games against Oregon, Minnesota and No. 12 Maryland
SO Kennedy Smith posted the second double-double of her career and first of the season with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds against Northwestern. Smith also added five assists.
SO Kennedy Smith scored a season and career high 20 points against the Illini. The sophomore also posted a career-best six blocks and added seven rebounds. The six blocks were a season high for the Trojans.
Against Ohio State, Smith finished with 18 points (6-for-9 FG, 2-for-3 3PT, 4-for-4 FT), three rebounds, four assists and a game-high three blocks
Smith was recognized for her defensive prowess on the 2025-26 Big Ten All-Defensive Team

KARA GETS IT DUNN

Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26. She has nine total 20+ point performances this season.
Against No. 24 Notre Dame, Dunn led USC in scoring with 21 points
Against Oregon, Dunn scored 21 points to lead USC in scoring. The senior also had nine rebounds and four assists. She was also perfect from the charity stripe, shooting 5-5 from the line
At Minnesota, Dunn dropped 27 points, making five three-pointers and contributing six steals and three assists
Against No. 13 Michigan State, Dunn recorded 23 points, six rebounds and three steals
Against No. 7 Michigan, Dunn had her first double-double of the season, posting 26 points, ten rebounds and three assists.
With her 25 point performance against No. 8 Iowa, senior Kara Dunn officially surpassed 1,500 career points. She notched her second double-double of the season against the Hawkeyes with 25 points and 12 rebounds. She also had five assists.
Dunn put on a show in the opening round of NCAA play, scoring 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.

KEEPING UP WITH JONES

Appearing in her first ever game as a Trojan, UCLA transfer Londynn Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points off the bench. The senior came off the bench for 18 minutes and had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. She was also 4-4 from the charity stripe.
Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a career high 28 points, while also contributing 2 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes played.
The senior got her first start as a Trojan against Pepperdine on Nov. 28, recording six points, five assists and one rebound. Against Saint Mary's, Jones put up a team-high 17 points.
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 138 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 30 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.3 percent from the charity stripe
Jones led USC in scoring in the Big Ten tournament, recording 19 points against Washington.