USC Women Get #5 Seed In NCAA Tourney

COLUIMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time in nine years. The Gamecocks (23-9) were picked as the fifth seed in the Fresno Region and will play Eastern Michigan (23-8) in Saturday’s opening round at West Lafayette, Ind. It was coach Dawn Staley’s first NCAA bid in four seasons at South Carolina. Earlier Monday, the Gamecocks finished No. 25 in the final Associated Press poll. The several hundred fans gathered at Colonial Life Arena cheered loudly when South Carolina’s name showed up in the televised announcement. Staley, her coaches and players hugged and applauded the selection. This was the latest of several milestones for Staley’s team. The Gamecocks won 20 games for the first time since 2003 and broke a 40-game losing streak to Tennessee. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.