Freshman jazzy davidson scored 31 points in her NCAA Tournament debut, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1: 03 left in overtime, lifting ninth-seeded Southern California to a 71-67 victory over No. 8 seed Clemson and sending the Trojans into a second-round matchup with top seed South Carolina on Monday (ET).
What happened in the Clemson game?
The contest reached dramatic heights at the end of regulation when Clemson’s Mia Moore flipped in a running basket at the buzzer that sent the Tigers into celebration. Officials reviewed the play and found the shot clock had not properly started with 4. 4 seconds remaining when Clemson inbounded, and the basket was waved off — sending the teams to five minutes of overtime.
In overtime, Clemson led 64-61 with 2: 34 to play until Davidson heated up. She hit a tying 3-pointer, then reclaimed a miss after Malia Samuels gathered the rebound and returned it, allowing Davidson to convert the go-ahead basket. Samuels later made a free throw to seal the final margin. Davidson played all 45 minutes and finished a point shy of her career high; Kara Dunn added 22 points and pushed the Trojans through a tense finish.
Other contributors: Taylor Johnson-Matthews scored 16 for Clemson, and Raven Thompson finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. USC reached this round despite playing the season without JuJu Watkins, who is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Clemson returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Clemson coach Shawn Poppie said, “Unfortunately, today, I thought Southern Cal was one possession, or point-1 second better than us. ” Kara Dunn urged teammates to lock in, saying, “You don’t get second chances in life, so we took advantage. ”
Can Jazzy Davidson carry USC into the matchup with South Carolina?
The Trojans will face South Carolina for a second time this season; the teams met in November in Los Angeles, a 69-52 South Carolina victory. Davidson’s 31-point debut — combined with her season scoring pace that led the team — changes the immediate calculus for USC heading into a matchup with a top seed.
- Best case: Davidson sustains her high-level production, USC plays with cohesion, and the Trojans pull an upset over South Carolina, extending their run.
- Most likely: Davidson provides a stern challenge and keeps USC competitive, but South Carolina’s earlier 69-52 win in November suggests the top seed remains favored to advance.
- Most challenging: South Carolina controls pace and depth, limiting USC’s opportunities and preventing Davidson from replicating the debut performance, ending the Trojans’ run.
Who wins, who loses and what to watch next?
Immediate winners: Davidson, for delivering a breakout tournament debut and all-important leadership across 45 minutes; Kara Dunn and Malia Samuels, for complementary production and late-game execution. Clemson’s roster and coach Shawn Poppie leave with a competitive showing and the knowledge that a review reversal changed the immediate outcome.
Short-term implications center on matchups and momentum. USC’s advancement without JuJu Watkins underscores how individual performances can carry a single-elimination run. South Carolina’s prior 69-52 victory over USC provides a clear benchmark for how the rematch might unfold.
Readers should expect a second-round game framed by contrasting arcs: a freshman breakout and a top seed’s established strength. Monitor how Davidson’s minutes and efficiency hold up against deeper competition and how USC adjusts to the defensive tasks ahead — those variables will determine whether this tournament moment becomes a single highlight or the start of a deeper run for jazzy davidson
