The Southern University Jaguars secured a hard-fought victory over the UC San Diego Tritons in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament’s First Four.
The Jaguars’ 68-56 win—their first-ever in the tournament—sent them into the Round of 64, where they will face top-seeded UCLA on Friday.
The game began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm, but Southern quickly gained momentum. By the end of the first quarter, the Jaguars had established a solid lead, outscoring UCSD 19-11. Soniyah Reed was instrumental for Southern, scoring 11 points in the first quarter, including three 3-pointers from the bench.
As the game progressed, Southern continued to dominate, extending their lead to 40-20 by the end of the second quarter. The Jaguars’ defense proved formidable, limiting UCSD to just 5 out of 17 shooting attempts compared to Southern’s impressive 11 out of 17.
PUTTING UP A FIGHTING IN THE PAINT 🎨😤#MarchMadness x 🎥 ESPNU / @JaguarsWBB pic.twitter.com/7lRAqVZ3el
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 20, 2025
Despite a spirited effort from the Tritons, Southern maintained their advantage throughout the game. UC San Diego, led by head coach Heidi VanDerveer, was making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament.
The Tritons had earned their spot by winning the Big West Championship, defeating UC Davis 75-66 in the finals.
For Southern, Soniyah Reed led the way with a team-high 24 points. Aniya Gourdine chipped in with 17 points and 7 rebounds.
Southern’s victory sets the stage for an exciting matchup against UCLA on Friday, March 21, at Pauley Pavilion. The Jaguars will look to continue their momentum and challenge the favored Bruins.
This story was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by HBCU Sports journalists.
