South Carolina women draw four seed, date with Belmont

After three years of being shipped all over the country for unknown and frustrating reasons, the South Carolina Gamecocks finally get to play within reasonable travel distance of their fans in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

USC, which earned a four seed, will play 13th-seeded Belmont on Friday at 1:45 p.m. on UNC Charlotte’s campus, since Colonial Life Arena is busy hosting the South Region of the NCAA Men’s Tournament.

If the Gamecocks handle Belmont, the winner of No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 12 Bucknell would await, which will also be played in Charlotte on Sunday. Should South Carolina advance to the Sweet 16, play will shift to Greensboro, N.C.

Belmont (23-6) won its fourth straight Ohio Valley Conference tournament, but has never advanced past the first round of the Big Dance.

Baylor (31-1) is the top seed in the Greensboro Region.