Women’s Basketball’s Historic Season Ends with 71-25 Loss to USC
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.
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro