The top-seeded South Carolina women’s basketball team might not have had the start it wanted against 16-seed UNC-Asheville at Colonial Life Arena on Friday.
Not that the final score showed it.
Leading by only two with under four minutes to go in the opening quarter, the Gamecocks steadily built their lead and raced ahead with 13 of the first 15 points of the second quarter in a 90-40 win to open NCAA Tournament play. South Carolina (28-4) will face the winner of Arizona State-Michigan State on Sunday at a time to be determined.
The 50-point win is the largest tournament margin in program history, bettering the 43-point margin against Bowling Green in 1990 (93-50).