COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina defeated Southern 103-34 in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament in Columbia, S.C. The victory marked South Carolina's 17th straight home women's NCAA tournament game win.

The top-seeded Gamecocks improved to 32-3 with the win over the 16th-seeded Jaguars, who entered the game with a 20-14 record as champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The 69-point margin was the largest in South Carolina's NCAA tournament history, while the 103 points were the team's second-most in an NCAA tournament game.

South Carolina opened the game with a 15-0 run and maintained its lead for the remainder of the game. Joyce Edwards scored 27 points on 11 of 14 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Gamecocks. Edwards scored two baskets during the opening run, while Ta'Niya Latson scored five points in the same stretch.

Southern began the game 0-for-7 on field goal attempts and committed six turnovers. The Gamecocks outscored Southern 32-2 in the third quarter.

In the second half, Edwards and Ta'Niya Latson forced a turnover near midcourt and Latson then flipped the ball behind her back to Edwards for an uncontested basket. "You could tell we were a little rusty initially," Edwards said. "As a team, we got together and started hitting shots."

Latson finished with 17 points for South Carolina. Madina Okot and Agot Makeer each scored 15 points, while Tessa Johnson had 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Jocelyn Tate led Southern with 10 points.

Dawn Staley, South Carolina's head coach, reflected on the team's performance after a March 8 loss to Texas in the Southeastern Conference tournament title game. "We missed being here. We hadn't been here in a while," Staley said. "I just thought they got out-talented tonight."

The program is seeking its sixth straight Final Four appearance and has compiled an 83-1 record at Colonial Life Arena over the past five seasons. Southern had advanced to the first round by defeating Samford 65-53 in the First Four.

"They're preparing to win a national championship," said Carlos Funchess, Southern's head coach. South Carolina will play either No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Southern California in the second round on Monday.