Dawn Staley is known for two things: winning championships and her impeccable sideline style. Ahead of their Round of 64 matchup, the South Carolina head coach, affectionately dubbed "Louis Vuitton Dawn," extended her signature flair to her upcoming opponents. Following Southern University’s gritty 65–53 victory over Samford University in the First Four on Thursday, Staley surprised the Jaguars with Louis Vuitton gifts to commemorate their return to the big stage.

The gesture serves as a bridge between two titans of the game. Staley, who has built a powerhouse in Columbia, has long advocated for the growth of women’s basketball and the empowerment of Black athletes. By gifting luxury items to the Jaguars, she highlighted the significance of Southern’s back-to-back First Four wins and their rising status as a dangerous March program.

On the court, the Jaguars proved they earned every bit of the celebration. After a tightly contested first half that saw them holding a slim three-point lead, Southern was locked in a 44-44 stalemate at the end of the third quarter. However, the final frame belonged to the SWAC champions.

DeMya Porter anchored the interior with a dominant double-double, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Her presence allowed Jaylia Reed to catch fire from deep, leading all scorers with 16 points, including three critical triples. The Jaguars erupted for a 21–9 run in the fourth quarter, utilizing a defensive effort that forced 19 turnovers to pull away for good.

Jocelyn Tate provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds, while D’Shantae Edwards disrupted Samford’s rhythm all night, racking up eight points and five steals. The win improved Southern to 20–13 on the season and set the stage for a historic Saturday showdown against the top-seeded Gamecocks.