How South Carolina's Agot Makeer helped slow USC's Jazzy Davidson in top freshman matchup

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How South Carolina's Agot Makeer helped slow USC's Jazzy Davidson in top freshman matchup

How South Carolina's Agot Makeer helped slow USC's Jazzy Davidson in top freshman matchup

Lulu Kesin, Greenville News · Greenville News

Tue, Mar 24, 2026 ·

3 min read

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COLUMBIA — To advance to the Sweet 16 of the Women's NCAA Tournament , South Carolina women's basketball had to stop Southern Cal freshman phenom Jazzy Davidson .

The No. 1 recruit from the Class of 2025 was coming off a 31-point night in the first round of March Madness. But South Carolina freshman Agot Makeer did her part to make sure Davidson didn't have any repeat success in the second round.

In the 101-61 victory for the No. 1 seed Gamecocks (33-3) on March 23, Davidson didn't score until the 6:20 mark of the second quarter. She finished with 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting, and 10 of her points came after South Carolina led by at least 30.

"I think the game plan (against) every team is to slow down their best player, especially (for) me," Makeer said. "I was motivated going in. She's my class, so just getting to play against her again was fun."

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South Carolina women's basketball vs USC, Joyce Edwards, Jazzy Davidson see our top photos

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) and South Carolina forward Maryam Dauda (30) warm up together with a ball handling drill, before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson (5) Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) practices before the game with Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

University of Southern California and University of South Carolina warm up before the game Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

University of Southern California forward Jazzy Davidson (9) warms up before the game with University of South Carolina Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) dances a little with guard Tessa Johnson (5) ,left, before warming up for the game with Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina center Madina Okot (11) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Alicia Tournebize (31) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Ayla McDowell (24) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Alicia Tournebize (31) gets ready to warm up for the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

Makeer was the No. 5 overall player in the 2025 class. She scored a career-high 15 points with three steals in the first-round win over Southern, and she followed it up with 15 points again, with three assists and four steals.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley often says she doesn't treat her freshmen like young players.

"I came here to be challenged," Makeer said. "I know there were other options, but I wanted to be coached by the best. It's hard. I struggled at times, but I feel like now I'm rising up and it's only going to make me better."

SEC Defensive Player of the Year Raven Johnson had Davidson at the start. She gave her nothing easy, with Davidson starting 0-of-2, So when Makeer checked in with 5:14 to play in the first quarter, it was key she followed Johnson's tone with the matchup.

Makeer also not let Davidson score in the opening quarter, and when Johnson and Davidson played together, Makeer stayed on Davidson.

"Agot's been building toward playing the way she's been playing," Staley said. "She's been playing very consistently ... I think she's probably the most talented guard that we have on our roster just both sides of the ball."

South Carolina moves on for a Sweet 16 rematch with No. 4 Oklahoma on March 28 (5 p.m ET, ESPN) in Sacramento. The Sooners were the only team to beat the Gamecocks in SEC play. Makeer scored eight points in the first meeting on Jan. 22.

"She just needs to get playing experience under her belt," Staley said. "I think it's just a tip of the iceberg, I think she's got more in her tank and she's got more to give and more to grow. Once she's able to do that, you'll see just a really incredibly gifted player."

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com . Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky ‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina's Agot Makeer helps slow USC star Jazzy Davidson

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