University Southern California Trojans
USC
*Washington
Last-Minute Rally Lifts Washington Over USC, 72-70
February 07, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2004
SEATTLE, Wash. -- The USC women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 72-70 loss at Washington on Saturday, thanks to an 8-3 Husky rally in the final two minutes. The Women of Troy (12-9, 9-4), who led by as much as nine points with a little more than five minutes left in the game, allowed UW (13-9, 6-7) to score consecutive three pointers to ignite the crowd of 6,339 at Bank of America Arena in Seattle.
Senior Ebony Hoffman led the Trojans with 16 points, 11 of which she scored in the second half, and seven rebounds. Freshman Eshaya Murphy was the only other USC player in doubles digits with 10 points.
The two teams were comparable from the field, but the Women of Troy were not able to overcome Washington's 70-percent effort at the line. The Huskies finished the game with 24 free throw attempts and made 17, while USC got 19 opportunities and made only nine (47.4 percent).
It was an aggressive battle from the start. Both teams seemed to be hitting their shots as well as forcing turnovers. There were 19 turnovers committed in the first 20 minutes and USC and Washington both shot 50.0 percent from the field.
USC was the first to pull ahead when Murphy entered the game and scored seven straight points to give the Women of Troy a 18-11 lead at 12:24. With a 16-to-8 run of their own, the Huskies got back in the game and took a one-point lead, 27-26. Thanks to a series of free throws, UW managed to gain a slight edge and entered the lockerroom ahead 39-35.
The teams matched each other point-for-point in the second half until a key three-pointer by senior Jessica Cheeks at 7:51 seemingly gave the Women of Troy some breathing room. USC continued its rally to lead by as much as nine points, 62-53, with 5:54 left on the clock.
But Washington managed to hold USC without a field goal for more than four minutes and quietly chipped away at the lead. Consecutive three-pointers with a little more than a minute left gave the Huskies a 70-67 advantage and they never looked back.
Senior Giuliana Mendiola, who nearly single-handedly guided Washington in its comeback effort, led all scorers with 29 points.
USC returns home this week for its final Pac-10 home series of the regular season. The Women of Troy host Arizona State and Arizona on Thursday, Feb. 12, and Sunday, Feb. 15.
- GO SC -
