University Southern California Trojans
USC
*Arizona State
Women's Basketball Blazes Past Sun Devils, 65-50
February 12, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2004
LOS ANGELES - Meghan Gnekow led with 19 points and Ebony Hoffman added a double-double as the USC women's basketball team defeated Arizona State in front of 532 at the Sports Arena on Thursday night. USC forced 34 Sun Devils turnovers and collected 17 steals as it beat ASU by matching their defensive intensity.
With the win, USC improves to 13-9 overall and 10-4 in the Pac-10 to jump back into third place in the conference race. Arizona State drops to 15-7 overall and 9-4 in the Pac-10 to fall to fourth place.
The Women of Troy blazed to a 13-2 lead in just the first five minutes of play. The Sun Devils were held without a field goal for more than six minutes before hitting a jumper at 13:41 to end the drought. USC maintained its intensity, all the while shooting 50 percent from the field to enter halftime with a 16-point lead, 35-19.
Guard Rometra Craig, who was the third USC player to finish in double digits, collected 10 of her 15 points in the first 20 minutes.
The Trojans returned from the break and used a 10-0 run to go ahead by as much as 26 points, 45-19, at the 16:44 mark.
ASU forward Amy Denson gave the Devils their first bucket with a layup at 16:33, which ignited the team's only run of the night. By holding USC to two points over the next six minutes, Arizona State used a 15-2 rally to come within 13 (47-34) with 11:28 left on the clock. But that was as close as the Sun Devils would get as the Women of Troy eased to the 65-50 victory.
Hoffman finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Gnekow's 19 fell one point shy of her career high. Arizona State was led by forward Jenny Thigpen, who contributed 13 points, and guard Lauren Stagg, who led with eight rebounds.
USC returns to the court this Sunday, Feb. 15, to face No. 24 Arizona at noon at the Sports Arena. The game will be broadcast live by FOX Sports West.
