LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The No. 16 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's basketball team concluded its 2024-25 historic season with a 75-21 loss to No. 1 USC in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.
UNCG held USC to its second lowest halftime score of the 2024-25 season with 19 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
USC's Rayah Marshall put the Trojans in the scoring column first with a three-point play, beginning an 8-0 run for the team. A triple from
Jayde Gamble followed by a layup from
Khalis Cain put the Spartans within three, 8-5. The Trojans extended their lead with a 4-1 run before
Yacine N'Diaye closed out the first quarter with a jumper to make it a four-point game, 12-8.
The Trojans came out of the break to outscore the Spartans, 16-3 in the second quarter. All three points for the Spartans came at the free throw line. USC controlled the game 28-11 heading to the locker room.
USC continued to control the momentum in the third frame, winning it 25-5. The fourth quarter was more of a close battle between the Spartans and Trojans in the early goings. USC's Kiki Iriafen made a layup at 9:36 to get the scoring started in the final frame. UNCG responded with a 6-2 run that was led with three-pointers from
Jailah Clark-Jones and
Nya Smith. However, USC was able to hold out for the 71-25 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Smith led the Spartans with seven points.
- Cain followed closely behind with six points.
- Gamble, N'Diaye and Cain paced UNCG with seven boards apiece.
- N'Diaye led the Spartans with three blocks.
RECORDS
UNCG: 25-7, 13-1 SoCon
USC: 29-3, 16-1 Big Ten
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The last time UNCG earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament was in 1998 with a 75-68 win over Georgia Southern in the SoCon Championship. The 2024-25 team defeated Chattanooga, 64-57, in this season's SoCon finale to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans tallied 14 consecutive victories this season for the longest winning streak in the Division I era. The squad also concluded the season with 25 wins for the most victories in the UNCG Division I era and tied for third all-time, marking the winningest season for Head Coach
Trina Patterson.