LIVE Score Updates: No. 1 USC Trojans vs. No. 16 UNC Greensboro, NCAA Tournament

Betting Odds:

The USC Trojans are 33.5-point favorites on Fanduel Sportsbook against the UNC Greensboro Spartans. The total points are 129.5. 

Preview:

The Trojans had a strong season and earned the No. 1 seed, but they were named the fourth No. 1 seed overall. After the bracket was released, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb voiced her frustration over the seeding.

“I never thought I’d be a one seed and feel disrespected, but I thought the committee just, I thought there would be very little chance we would be the number four overall number one,” Gottlieb said.“This was not on my bingo card to be a little bit, you know frustrated after being a one seed and it’s not, you know, an arrogance of any kind.”

Gottlieb knows that despite the frustration, the team must shift their focus towards the Spartans and take it one game at a time. 

“I think there’s a lot of really good teams and you’ve got to play the first game in front of you and earn your way from there and that’s what we’ll do,” Gottlieb said.

The USC Trojans have averaged 81.5 points per game this season, led by star guard JuJu Watkins with 24.6 points. Forward Kiki Iriafen is averaging 18.2 points per game. Watkins and Iriafen have become a dynamic duo this season.

Watkins also leads the team with 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals, and Iriafen leads the team, averaging 8.3 rebounds. USC center Rayah Marshall is one of the many dominant players on the team, averaging 1.9 blocks. USC has a talented team and is difficult to stop.

The Trojans went 14-1 while playing at Galen Center this season. Between the championship loss and their frustration over their seeding, the Women of Troy are entering the tournament with a chip on their shoulder.

The UNC Greensboro Spartans are 25-6, 13-1 in Southern Conference play. The Spartans are coming off an overtime win against the Chattanooga Mocs, 64-57 in the Southern Conference Championship game. The team went 7-5 in away games this season as they head into a hostile Galen Center.

The Spartans are averaging 61.0 points per game, led by guard Caia Elisaldez, who is averaging 13.9 points per game. Forward Gianna Corbitt is not far behind, averaging 10.6 points per game. Elisaldez also leads the team, averaging 4.7 assists, and Corbitt leads, averaging 7.2 rebounds.

The other names for the Spartans to watch for are guard Sigrun Olafsdottir, who is averaging 2.4 steals, and forward Karsen Murphy, who is leading the Spartans with 0.9 blocks. The Spartans have had a big season but will be facing a tough USC team.

If USC defeats UNC Greensboro, the Trojans will play the winner of California vs. Mississippi State.

• Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. 
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