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Practicing to cheer on the women Gamecocks during the big dance

As Dawn Staley's Gamecocks hit the floor, so will the USC Cheer team, ready to pump up the crowd and the home team.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gamecocks women's basketball is preparing for their first round of March Madness Friday when they play Presbyterian College at 2pm at the Colonial Life Arena.

But they aren’t the only ones.

The Gamecock Cheerleading Team has also been preparing for the big dance as they will also be traveling with the team to Albany and Cleveland as they advance. 

Laurel Bixler is a Gamecock cheerleader and she says getting the crowd excited has been a highlight for her. 

“The process has been extremely fun," said Bixler. "We have been working on our cheers and working on getting the crowd involved throughout the whole season it has been extremely fun.”

Twelve people from the team will get to travel  to Albany and Cleveland with the Gamecocks as they advance in their tournament journey.

RELATED: Oregon's Couisnard drops 40 points in 87-73 March Madness win over South Carolina

Ella Froedge says being able to cheer on an undefeated team is priceless.

“It is absolutely awesome having the feeling of having that undefeated team as the people that we are cheering for and encourage is a really cool experience," said Froedge. "Not many cheerleaders get to say that they have and as someone who has also witnessed them win a previous national championship it’s super exciting to watch them try to defend that title.”

RELATED: Tourney Time in Columbia, South Carolina hosts Presbyterian College in its NCAA Tournament opener

The cheerleaders have been practicing four times a week. 

On top of new dances for the season, Gamecock Cheer has been practicing and preparing new stunts and tumbling for the tournament. 

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