South-Carolina

Record 5 women’s basketball teams score 100 points in March Madness first round blowouts

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2025

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Record 5 women’s basketball teams score 100 points in March Madness first round blowouts

How’s your women’s March Madness bracket doing? If you picked chalk, you should be in prime position.

The 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament officially tipped off Friday and aside from a couple of upsets — like No. 7 Vanderbilt falling to No. 10 Oregon in overtime or No. 10 South Dakota State defeating No. 7 Oklahoma State — higher-seeded teams have taken care of business against lower-seeded teams in the opening round.

All four of the No. 1 seeds in the tournament — UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and USC — comfortably cruised to the second round after defeating their first-round opponents by an average margin of victory of 47 points.

And a total of six teams — South Carolina, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UConn, Texas and LSU — surpassed 100 points in the first round, a tournament record for a single round, according to ESPN.

The largest blowout in the first round belonged to No. 2 UConn, which tied the seventh largest margin of victory in women’s March Madness history with a 103-34 win over No. 15 Arkansas State. (More on that later.) The tournament record was set in 2017 when No. 1 Baylor defeated No. 16 Texas Southern by a whopping 89 points in a first-round matchup that ended 119-30.

Before we set our sights on the second round of this year’s tournament, lets that a look at the biggest blowouts in the opening round of 64:

MARCH MADNESS: Big upsets are rare in women’s NCAA Tournament. Is this the year that changes?

MORE: NCAA women’s basketball tournament bracket breakdown, best games, players to watch

69 points — No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Arkansas State

UConn is in pursuit of its first national championship since 2016 and the Huskies got off to a great start in the first round with a rout of Arkansas State. Azzi Fudd dropped 27 points (10-for-13 FG, 6-for-9 3PT) in her first tourney appearance since 2023 and had a career-high seven assists. Freshman Sarah Strong recorded her fourth straight double-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five blocks, the first player in 25 years to record that stat line. The Huskies scored 35 points off turnovers alone and held Arkansas State to 12-of-70 from the field.

WHO IS AZZI FUDD? UConn star dropped 21 points in first half vs. Arkansas State

61 points — No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Lehigh

The Blue Devils recorded their largest margin of victory this season, while holding Lehigh to the second-lowest point total in NCAA Women’s Tournament history. Duke did so with both their offense and defense. Three Blue Devils scored in double digits, led by sophomore Oluchi Okananwa’s 15 points (6-of-10 FG, 2-3 3PT), seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Mountain Hawks were held to single digits in each quarter in the game. “This is March. Doesn’t matter who your opponent is. You address each and every one with the same intensity,” Okananwa said after the win.

60 points — No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Tennessee Tech

South Carolina entered Friday’s first-round matchup with extra motivation after being snubbed for the No. 1 overall seed. The Gamecocks came out and made a statement with a 60-point victory over Tennessee Tech. Freshman Joyce Edwards had a team-high 22 points (9-of-12 FG), while MiLaysia Fulwiley added 15 points. South Carolina leads the nation in bench points per game (42.2) this season and showcased its depth on Friday. The Gamecocks’ 66 bench points Friday marked the most in NCAA Tournament history.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Raven Johnson brings energy in March Madness beatdown of Tennessee Tech

DAWN STALEY: South Carolina women’s basketball super fan Plies gifts head coach gem-studded chain

52 points — No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Stephen F. Austin

Notre Dame entered the NCAA Tournament losing three of its last five games, but the Fighting Irish corrected course with a dominant first-round win, which marked the second time in program history that Notre Dame surpassed 100 points in March Madness. Five players scored in the double digits, led by Sonia Citron (24) and Hannah Hidalgo (24). Notre Dame placed an emphasis on defense, swiping 18 steals and forcing 28 turnovers. It wasn’t all smiles for Notre Dame — Olivia Miles’ night ended early due to an ankle injury.

OLIVIA MILES INJURY UPDATE: Notre Dame guard exits Stephen F. Austin game after hurting ankle

46 — No. 1 USC vs. No. 16 UNC Greensboro

Final score: USC 71, UNC Greensboro 25
Largest lead: 46 points

The Trojans held the Spartans to the second-lowest point total in NCAA Women’s Tournament history and their 46-point margin of victory marked the program’s largest in a March Madness game. Sophomore JuJu Watkins led the way with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals. She’s scored double digits in every game this season. Senior Kiki Iriafen added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, marking her 12th of the season. The Trojans scored 32 points off of 23 turnovers and held the Spartans to 7-of-54 from the field.

JUJU WATKINS INJURY UPDATE: Rolled ankle in USC March Madness game today

44 — No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 12 Fairfield

Kansas State soundly defeated Fairfield by 44 points following the return of star center Ayoka Lee, who put up a double-double with 17 points (7-of-10 FG) and 10 rebounds in her first game in nearly a month. Guard Serena Sundell flirted with a double-double with 18 points (8-of-10 FG), nine assists and two steals. Kansas State out rebounded Fairfield 44-19 and held the Stags to 15-of-51 from the field.

44 — No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 William & Mary

Madison Booker showed exactly why she’s the SEC player of the year following a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double performance. The Longhorns pulled away from William & Mary in the second half and led by as many as 45 points in the win. Texas outscored William & Mary 56-22 in the paint and out rebounded the Tribe 51-26.

38 — No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Southern

Final score: UCLA 84, Southern 46
Largest lead: 38 points

The No. 1 overall seed opened the NCAA Tournament by setting a program record for the largest margin of victory in March Madness history. Six Bruins scored in double-digits, led by Lauren Betts’ 14 points, six blocks, four assists, three blocks and one steal. Will this be the season UCLA women’s basketball breaks through? The Bruins have advanced as far as the Elite Eight twice (1999, 2018) and Sweet Sixteen nine times, most recently last season, but have never made it to the Final Four.

LAUREN BETTS: Stats, what to know of UCLA women’s basketball star

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for July 9, 2026

Published

4 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for July 9, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 9 drawing

Midday: 1-0-2, FB: 4

Evening: 7-2-5, FB: 5

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 9 drawing

Midday: 4-0-7-0, FB: 4

Evening: 7-5-7-0, FB: 5

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 9 drawing

Midday: 13

Evening: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 9 drawing

05-11-23-25-39

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South-Carolina

SC is at the top for food waste in the nation. How you can make changes

Published

15 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

SC is at the top for food waste in the nation. How you can make changes

A recent study ranked South Carolina as the ninth most wasteful state in the nation, struggling with commercial, industrial, and household waste.
Food waste in the U.S. has a significant environmental impact, generating greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 37 million cars.

Each year, Americans discard nearly 60 million tons of food, the highest amount of any country in the world.

‘While the world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food every year, the United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 60 million tons — 120 billion pounds — every year,” according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 report from Recycle Track Systems, a waste management company.

That wasted supply represents lost meals for families already facing food insecurity, according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 guide. While also filling U.S. landfills and contributing to harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Tackling this growing problem requires solutions from restaurants, grocery stores, farms, and manufacturers, where overproduction and waste are most common.

Food waste remains one of the nation’s most challenging problems, but some states, like South Carolina, have bigger problems controlling it than others.

South Carolina ranks ninth for states with the largest food waste

From state to state, the struggle against food waste reveals stark differences in efforts to conserve food.

To measure which states are falling behind, Lawn Starter analyzed food waste using 37 key metrics, and the results show South Carolina is one of the states behind the rest.

The study shows the Palmetto State ranked among the most wasteful in the nation, placing ninth overall with a score of 46.1 out of 100. South Carolina also ranked 46th in commercial and industrial waste, 43rd in household waste, 36th in recycling and 19th in reduction efforts.

How South Carolina and other states got their rating

The rankings were based on four key metrics, according to the LawnStarter study.

Commercial and industrial food waste
Household food waste
Most food recycled
Food waste reduction efforts

South Carolina food waste statistics

In light of the Lawn Starter study, here are the food waste statistics for the Palmetto State.

The Palmetto State recorded the highest year‑over‑year increase in farm waste of any state, with a 41% jump in farm waste volume and a 103.9% surge in surplus crops value.
Storms in the 2024 hurricane season, including Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene, left fields damaged and unsellable crops considered waste.
South Carolina’s food recycling rate fell 1.15% to 29.03%, retail food waste climbed 4.17%, and residential waste barely declined, dropping only 2.59%, the smallest household reduction in the country.

Reducing food waste can help save the planet

Globally, discarded food accounts for 11% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 guide.

In the United States, the impact is profound, the World Wildlife Federation states that the production of wasted food generates emissions equal to those of 37 million cars.

Experts with RTS state that if Americans continue on the same food loss path, environmental consequences could be catastrophic.

Ways to reduce food waste

In the United States and beyond, there are many ways to reduce waste, according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 guide. From improving household habits to strengthening recycling and recovery efforts.

Here are some suggested strategies to reduce waste.

Food waste recovery strategies

Source reduction — Take only what you need
Feed hungry people — Redirect surplus food to those in need
Feed animals — Use safe leftovers as animal feed
Industrial uses — Convert waste into energy or other products
Composting — Recycle food scraps into soil nutrients
Landfill/Incineration — Last resort disposal methods

Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.

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South-Carolina

Watch out for SC’s 5 most common ticks and take steps to avoid bites

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Watch out for SC’s 5 most common ticks and take steps to avoid bites

Ticks are active year-round in South Carolina but are most prevalent from April to September.
The Lone star tick, common in the state, can cause a red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome.
Other common ticks in South Carolina include the Black-legged, Gulf Coast, American Dog, and Brown Dog ticks.
Preventative measures include using EPA-approved repellent and avoiding areas with tall grass and brush.

Lone star, Gulf Coast, and American Dog are some of the unique names for South Carolina’s most common bloodsucking ticks that are out and about now that the summer season is in full swing.

One of the ticks in particular has been making headlines recently for causing alpha-gal syndrome, an immune system reaction that makes those bitten allergic to red meat.

If you plan to spend much of your time outdoors this summer, you’ll want to take precautions to avoid tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Here’s what to know about the Palmetto State’s most common ticks and why you should steer clear of tall grass.

Are ticks active year-round in South Carolina?

Tick season is active year-round in South Carolina due to the state’s mild winters. They are most active in the warmer months from April to September, increasing the risk of exposure during the period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is questing?

The National Library of Medicine defines “questing” as a tick’s heat-seeking behavior in which they climb plants and stretch out their front legs, waiting to attach themselves to a passerby. During this process, ticks rely on sensing cues such as carbon monoxide, heat, and movement.

Common ticks in South Carolina

In South Carolina, five ticks are commonly observed. Here’s what they are and the diseases they carry, according to Clemson University:

Lone Star Tick

The most common tick in South Carolina.
Can cause alpha-gal allergy (meat allergy), ehrlichiosis (bacterial disease that causes fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue), and Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (Lyme disease-like rash that may cause fatigue, fever, headache, muscle, or joint aches).

Black-legged Tick

Found in low volume in South Carolina.
Can transmit Lyme disease, tick-borne relapsing fever, and anaplasmosis (bacterial illness that causes fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches).

Gulf Coast Tick

An important South Carolina tick that can cause Rickettsia parkeri, a recently identified disease that can cause spotted fever in humans.

American Dog Tick

Transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, an illness that presents with fever, severe headache, muscle aches, and a characteristic rash that requires prompt treatment with doxycycline to prevent medical emergencies.

Brown Dog Tick

Also transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Lyme disease and South Carolina ticks

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the country, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 476,000 patients are treated for it annually.

Black-legged ticks are the culprits behind the spread and must be removed within 24 hours of the bite to prevent infection.

Some of the symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, arthritis, and a bull’s-eye rash. The disease has no cure, although treatment options are available.

Tips to prevent tick bites

The South Carolina Department of Public Health listed the following tips to reduce your chances of being bitten by a tick:

Wear repellent containing 20% or more of any active ingredient approved by EPA as a tick repellent (such as DEET) year-round.
Wear long pants tucked into socks.
Pretreat clothing with 0.5% permethrin, which can provide protection even after a few washes.
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with tall vegetation.
Stay in the center of walking/hiking trails.
Check in and around the hair and ears, under the arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, and the back of the knees. These areas on the body are where ticks can hide.

How to safely remove a tick from the body

To safely remove a tick from the body, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick closely to the skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pull upwards with steady, even pressure without jerking or twisting the tick, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.

Upon removal, cleanse the bite area with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic like iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol.

Record the date of the bite and contact your doctor immediately if symptoms arise.

Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at ntran@usatodayco.com.

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