Southern University Jaguars vs UC San Diego Tritons Prediction & Picks - NCAA Division I, Championship Women

Prediction published on 3/19/25, 5:07 AM  by Paul Tamayo | Modified on 3/19/25 at 5:10 AM in Basketball Picks

The Southern University Jaguars take on the UC San Diego Tritons in an NCAA First Four game on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the Pauley Pavilion.

Both seeded at 16th in the West region, the Jaguars and the Tritons battle for the right to face the 1st-ranked UCLA Bruins in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They hold almost identical records, with the Jaguars sporting a 20-14 card and the Tritons finishing with 20-15.

These two teams aren't known for their offensive prowess. In terms of offensive rating, Southern is ranked 294th (85.3) and UC San Diego is at 227th (89.3). Sumayah Sugapong leads the Tritons with 14.7 points, while Aniya Gourdine produces a team-best 11.9 points for the Jaguars.

It is on defense that Southern and UC San Diego are at their best. The Jaguars are 38th (82.5) in defensive rating, while theTritons are ranked 21st (80.8). Both these teams force their opponents to commit 20.1 turnovers per game.

Look for Southern and UC San Diego to rely on their strength, which is their respective defensive schemes. With everything on the line, this could be a low-scoring affair between the Jaguars and the Tritons.