USC vs UNCG Women’s Basketball: Trojans Dominate in March Madness 2025 Opener
Los Angeles, CA - In a commanding display at the Galen Center on Saturday, March 22, 2025, the top-seeded USC Trojans defeated the 16th-seeded UNC Greensboro Spartans 71-25 in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
USC’s star guard, JuJu Watkins, led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 8-of-17 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. She also contributed defensively with several steals, setting the tone for the Trojans’ aggressive play.
The Trojans’ defense was particularly effective, limiting the Spartans to a 13% shooting percentage and forcing 23 turnovers. USC dominated the boards as well, out-rebounding UNCG 60-34.
Despite a slow start, with the Trojans leading 12-8 at the end of the first quarter, USC found its rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring UNCG 16-3 to take a 28-11 halftime lead. The Trojans continued to apply pressure in the second half, particularly in the third quarter, where they outscored the Spartans 25-5.
USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb praised her team’s defensive effort, stating, “Our defense set the tone today. Holding any team to 25 points in an NCAA Tournament game is a testament to our players’ commitment on that end of the floor.”
UNC Greensboro’s leading scorer, Nya Smith, was held to seven points on 2-of-13 shooting. The Spartans struggled to find offensive consistency throughout the game, hindered by USC’s relentless defensive pressure.
With this victory, USC advances to the second round, where they will face the winner of the matchup between eighth-seeded California and ninth-seeded Mississippi State. The Trojans aim to build on this dominant performance as they continue their pursuit of a national championship.
