LOS ANGELES — In a thrilling NCAA Tournament First Four matchup on Wednesday night, Southern University secured a 68-56 victory over UC San Diego, largely thanks to Soniyah Reed’s exceptional performance off the bench. Reed scored 19 of her total 24 points in the first half, establishing a commanding lead for Southern that they maintained throughout the game.
Ranked as the 16th seed, Southern improved their tournament track record, claiming their first win in seven appearances. Their triumph sets up a challenging face-off against the overall No. 1 seed, UCLA, in the round of 64 scheduled for Friday.
Reed, who usually averages fewer than 11 points per game, displayed remarkable shooting accuracy, hitting 8 of her 10 shots, including three successful attempts from beyond the arc. Alongside her, Aniya Gourdine contributed significantly, shooting 7 of 14 and securing 17 points along with seven rebounds. Tionna Lidge also added to the Jaguars’ impressive score, netting 12 points by making 6 out of 8 shots. Overall, the Jaguars achieved a commendable 49% shooting accuracy.
UC San Diego’s scoring was led by Sumayah Sugapong, who tallied 19 points, featuring three 3-pointers, and also dished out six assists. Parker Montgomery was another key player for UCSD, contributing 15 points through four 3-pointers. Together, this duo was instrumental in UCSD’s second-half rally, putting up a combined 25 points. Despite their efforts, UCSD, in its first year of tournament eligibility, managed only a 34% shooting rate.
In the game’s final moments, a 3-pointer from Sabrina Ma followed by a basket from Junae Mahan brought UCSD within six points as the clock ticked down. However, Southern’s precision at the free-throw line sealed the scoring.
Notably, Montgomery and Sugapong each recorded a couple of 3-pointers in the third quarter, accounting for nearly all of UCSD’s 20 points for the period, while cutting a 20-point lead to just nine before entering the last quarter.
The game tied momentarily at 2-2, but Reed’s entrance midway through the first quarter changed the momentum in Southern’s favor. Her trio of 3-pointers and additional scoring elevated the Jaguars to a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Gourdine’s successive 3-pointers and Reed’s scoring streak in the second quarter enabled Southern to outscore UCSD 21-9, solidifying their advantage.
