Another HBCU basketball program just cemented its place in history. For the first time ever, Southern University’s women’s basketball team has won an NCAA Tournament game. Even more significantly, their triumph marks the first-ever NCAA Tournament victory for a women’s team from the SWAC—a breakthrough decades in the making.

On Wednesday night, the Lady Jaguars delivered a steady, composed 68-56 win over UC San Diego, showcasing the poise and grit that got them to this stage. Senior guard Aniya Gourdine led the way with a stellar all-around performance—17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. But it was her fellow senior guard, Soniyah Reed, who stole the show, coming off the bench to torch UC San Diego for 24 points on a blistering 80% shooting.

“This means the world to us. We’ve worked for this,” Reed said in the postgame press conference. “This is what we do. Our coaches believe in us. They never put doubt in us. They always talk us up, and we come out and deliver for them.”

“It means everything. This is what I’ve dreamed of," Gourdine added. “We’ve been talking about this moment since the summer.”

Southern’s win is part of a larger movement brewing in this year’s tournament. A day earlier, Alabama State’s men’s team notched its own historic first NCAA Tournament win, thanks to a game-winning shot from guard Amarr Knox. Knox’s heroics carried extra weight—he’s engaged to Southern graduate senior guard DaKiyah Sanders, making this week of HBCU triumphs even more personal and special.

Now, the Jaguars face their toughest challenge yet: a showdown with No. 1 overall seed UCLA, a team stacked with future WNBA talent and national championship expectations. The odds are steep. But history has already been rewritten once this week…

“The most important thing is shining a light on HBCUs and the SWAC,” Gourdine said. “We belong here. We can compete with the best.”