USC
2-3
Gardner-Webb
0-6
USC Women Wrap Up Gardner-Webb 82-41
November 26, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2011
FREEPORT, BAHAMAS - The USC women's basketball team needed a breakthrough game in the Bahamas and found it in the form of an 82-41 win over Gardner-Webb today in the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport. The Women of Troy snapped a three-game skid to some of the nation's best teams by racking up a hot-handed game against the Running Bulldogs, with Ashley Corral leading all with 22 points - including six 3-pointers - and Christina Marinacci hauling in 14 rebounds in the win. USC goes to 2-3 overall with the victory, and Gardner-Webb now sits at 0-6.
The Women of Troy shot at a 54-percent clip from the floor and outrebounded the Running Bulldogs 41-22. Four Trojans scored in double figures led by Corral's 22 along with 13 from Cassie Harberts and 12 apiece from Jacki Gemelos and Thaddesia Southall, while Marinacci dominate the boards to the tune of her 14 rebounds. Gardner-Webb received 14 points from Jasmine Dale, who was 4-for-4 from 3-point range in the game.
USC never trailed in the game, although Gardner-Webb hung around early one. It was a four-point game after 12 minutes of action until a bucket from Gemelos and a three-point play by Corral kick-started the Trojan offense. After Dale nailed her second three of the game, USC outscored GWU 12-1 in the last 5:10 of the first half to take a 38-20 halftime advantage.
USC then pieced together a 17-1 run in the first nine minutes of the second half thanks in part to three more 3-pointers from Corral and one apiece from Desiree Bradley and Alexyz Vaioletama. Bradley would hit a career high on the night with eight points, and Thaddesia Southall would set a benchmark for herself as well with 12 on the night. The Trojans would continue to breeze out of reach of the Running Bulldogs down the stretch and lock in on a resounding 82-41 victory to put some wind in USC's sails on the way back to Los Angeles. The Trojans will next play host to UTSA on Wednesday (Nov. 30) at 7 p.m. at the Galen Center before striking out on another stretch of three road games.
With five steals in the game, Briana Gilbreath moved up within striking distance of the No. 9 all-time slot in the USC history books. She holds 209 career steals to sit one away from Rhonda Williams. Gilbreath also took over at No. 5 all-time in career blocks after notching three tonight. Corral, meanwhile, also climbed up in career points to take over at No. 15 all-time with 1,252 career points
