The No. 1 seeded South Carolina Gamecocks took care of business at home in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Facing the No. 9 USC Trojans, the Gamecocks delivered a statement with their 101-61 victory over the overmatched Trojans.
South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards had 23 points, and center Madina Okot notched her 22nd double-double this season, adding 15 points with 15 rebounds. Tessa Johnson and Ta'Niya Latson rounded out the Gamecocks' offense, combining for 22 points on the night. Senior Raven Johnson also reached 1,000 career points in what was a celebratory affair for the Gamecocks, playing in their final home game of the 2025-26 season.
ONE THOUSAND POINTS IN @HollywoodRaven FASHION 🤩
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 24, 2026
📺 ESPN | https://t.co/6lrEL7fyNz pic.twitter.com/Rsy4X68Br7
Defensively, South Carolina held USC to shoot just 37% from the floor, with Londynn Jones scoring 20 points on the night.
“I think we're starting to connect,” Staley said after the game of her team. “I do think the excitement of playing in the NCAA Tournament has lifted them to play connected basketball. They know the stakes are high, it takes a win to advance and it's bringing out the ultra competitiveness in them."
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While South Carolina has every right to bask in the glory of making it to the Sweet 16, the Gamecocks now get to turn their attention to a familiar opponent—the No. 4 seeded Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma beat No. 13 Idaho and No. 5 Michigan State to reach the Sweet 16.
The Sooners are led by guards Aaliyah Chavez and Payton Verhulst, center Raegan Beers and forward Sahara Williams. South Carolina played and lost to the Sooners earlier this season, handing the Gamecocks one of its three losses on the year. On Jan. 22, the Sooners beat South Carolina 94-82 in overtime in the only meeting between the two teams this season.
"We know we also have a really good team ahead of us in Oklahoma," Staley added on Monday evening. "Someone that beat us this year, and that we are going to be challenged. So if we are so blessed enough to make it to the Elite 8, we know we beat an incredible, hungry basketball team."
What's better than getting sweet revenge? Doing so and getting back to the Elite Eight, of course. South Carolina will surely have both goals in mind.
The Gamecocks and Sooners will face off on Saturday, March 28th at 5p.m. ET for a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.