COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Women's Basketball team's first game in the March Madness tournament is in the bag with a win against Presbyterian College.
Ahead of the game, News19 caught up with sophomore Ashlyn Watkins' mom on the journey to the Big Dance.
Ashlyn Watkins's biggest fan has already started her regimen for a win.
"This morning, I sent my daughter some encouraging text messages," her mother, Sabrina Watkins, said. "I'm so happy for her because I know the journey she took, how long it took her to get there, and how hard she worked."
The journey started way before her time at Cardinal Newman High School.
"It's just surreal to me, because, you know, this was just a little girl in second grade asking me to put her in basketball. And I never thought that it will take us this far. This was just like you know, a recreation activity for her," she said.
Now she's ready to watch her college sophomore hit the hardwood and "WIN to win," Watkins said.
Watkins says she's already planning past today's games, anticipating the wins to come.
"I've purchased my ticket for Albany, purchased my flight tickets for Cleveland so I'm ready," she said.
She adds that her superstition is to be in her seat before the women leave the locker room.