The South Carolina Gamecocks wasted no time making a statement in the first round of Women's March Madness, crushing Tennessee Tech 108-48. Now, they are turning their attention to the Indiana Hoosiers as they gear up for a Round of 32 showdown.
For the second straight season, South Carolina and Indiana will clash in the NCAA Tournament. Last year's Sweet 16 thriller saw the Gamecocks hold off the Hoosiers to win 79-75. This year, Indiana enters as the No. 9 seed with a 20-12 record, although they had a shaky finish to their season, going 4-5 in the last nine regular season games.
On the flip side, the Gamecocks have nearly been unstoppable this season. And once again, they are heavy favorites heading into this matchup. South Carolina is currently shooting 52.8% from the field across SEC and NCAA Tournaments. On Friday, the team shot a killer 67.2%, the third highest mark under Dawn Staley.
The Gamecocks are currently 28th nationally in assists (16.9 per game), but they have stepped it up in the postseason averaging 19.0 assists on 43 made field goals. South Carolina also leads the nation in bench points with 42.2 per game, a full 10 point higher than the next-best team. On Friday, they shattered NCAA Tournament records with 66 points off the bench.
The Gamecocks depth and offensive prowess are tough to match, but March is all about the madness! Will South Carolina continue to march to another championship. We will find out soon enough!
How to watch:
- Who: No. 9-seeded Indiana Hoosiers (20-12) vs. No. 1-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks (31-3)
- What: NCAA Tournament Second Round Game
- When: Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
Last game results:
- Indiana defeated Utah 76-68 in the first round.
- South Carolina beat Tennessee Tech 108-48 in the first round.
Series History:
- South Carolina leads the series 4-2.
NCAA Tournament History
- Indiana: 12-10 record in 11 tournament appearances. Best finish: Regional Final in 2021.
- South Carolina: 51-17 all-time in 21 NCAA Tournament appearances. National Champions in 2017, 2022, and 2024.
Stakes:
The winner advances to the Birmingham 2 Regional, scheduled for either March 28 or 29. The next opponent will be one of No. 4 Maryland, No. 5 Alabama, No. 12 Green Bay, or No. 13 Norfolk State.