WOMEN’S BASKETBALL — 2024-25
USC vs. UNC Greensboro — live updates
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Scoring plays
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📌 PINNED
Leila MacKenzie & Darrian Merritt from Galen Center; photos by Braden Dawson
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, No. 1-seeded USC greets No. 16-seeded UNC Greensboro at Galen Center.
The Trojans secured the fourth No. 1 seed in March Madness after failing to win a third consecutive game over UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament final. With a chip on its shoulder and nearly a week of rest, USC aims to outdo last year’s Elite 8 finish.
We’ll be reporting live from Galen Center in Los Angeles. Refresh to see new updates.
2:00 p.m.
Even with a defender swatting from behind, Howell finished the game with a dagger from downtown. USC advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament having defeated UNC Greensboro 71-25.
1:56 p.m.
Heckel receives a standing ovation as she heads to the bench. In the previous play, she took an elbow to the face. K-9 finished with 8 points and four steals in 17 minutes.
1:47 p.m.
Freshman guard Avery Howell and sophomore guard Malia Samuels checked in for freshman guard Kennedy Smith and Watkins.
Iriafen is still out there; she has a double-double with 13 points and rebounds.
1:42 p.m.
Watkins is back on the floor, smiling and running around as usual.
1:40 p.m.
After a slim 4-point lead to conclude the first quarter, the Trojans haven’t left a frame without outscoring the Spartans by at least five-fold. USC outscored the Spartans 25-5 in the third; it now leads by 37 points as it heads into the final 10 minutes.
1:37 p.m.
With 3:39 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Watkins went to the bench, possibly with an ankle injury. Although she’s sat for a few minutes, Watkins doesn’t appear fazed.
1:34 p.m.
USC is shooting an underwhelming 38.8%, but still, it has made more field goals (18) than the Spartans have points (16). UNC Greensboro is shooting a whopping 11.4% from the field.
1:29 p.m.
It’s a 30-point game after freshman guard Kayleigh Heckel’s clutching layup. USC leads the Spartans 45-15
1:27 p.m.
In half one, the Trojans tallied up 11 turnovers. So far this half, they’ve played clean with just one fumble.
1:20 p.m.
Watkins has single-handedly outscored the Spartans. She has 17 points and eight rebounds.
12:51 p.m.
UNC Greensboro has not made a bucket in over eight minutes. The Trojans are on a 13-point run and lead 25-10.
12:48 p.m.
After 15 minutes on the floor and five shot attempts, Iriafen has her first field goal.
12:45 p.m.
USC has doubled UNC Greensboro’s score at 20-10. In quite the extended game break, fans experienced a mascot dance battle between a Spartan and a Trojan.
12:39 p.m.
Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins is the first player to break into double-digit scoring. The unanimous All-American has 11 points, shooting 4-9 from the field.
12:34 p.m.
Some of these UNC Greensboro defenders have sticky hands. USC has more than double the Spartans’ turnovers and three have been committed by graduate forward Kiki Iriafen.
12:26 p.m.
At the end of the first frame, USC leads 12-8. Both teams are shooting poorly on 14 shots.
12:25 p.m.
The Trojans are maximizing their size mismatch on defense, holding the Spartans to 21.4% from the field. USC is shooting too well either — it is 35.7% from the field.
USC’s starters are over 6-foot-1-inch on average, whereas UNC Greensboro is 5-foot-9-inches on average.
12:10 p.m.
UNC Greensboro responded to graduate guard Talia von Oelhoffen‘s triple with a 3-pointer of their own. Now that they’re on the board, USC leads the Spartans 8-3.
12:08 p.m.
Senior center Rayah Marshall opened scoring with an and-one, as she bodied a defender in the paint.
USC leads UNC Greensboro 5-0. For those in attendance, the score isn’t too apparent because the scorebug has been pulled off the jumbotron. The Spartans’ name was spelled ‘Spartons’ during the Trojans’ first possession.
12:03 p.m.
The Trojans’ starting lineup for the first round is as follows
G Kennedy Smith
G JuJu Watkins
C Rayah Marshall
F Kiki Iriafen
G Talia von Oelhoffen
