Friday, January 17
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 PM
USC
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UCLA
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Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women Host No. 7 UCLA In Friday’s Crosstown Showdown
January 14, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Features
Trojans look for revenge in their second meeting with the Bruins, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Galen Center.
USC (8-8, 0-5) vs. #7 UCLA (16-0, 5-0)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Jan. 17 | 7:30 p.m.
Series Record: USC leads 49-48 (since 1971-72)
Last Meeting: L, 83-59 (Dec. 29, 2019 • Westwood)
Current Streak: UCLA won 1
TV: Pac-12 Network | Pac-12 Los Angeles (PbP: Anne Marie Anderson | Analyst: Maylana Douglas)
THIS WEEK
USC gets another shot at crosstown rival UCLA this week, with the No. 7 Bruins coming to Galen Center. The Trojans (8-8, 0-5 Pac-12) will square off against undefeated UCLA (16-0, 5-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 17). First 700 fans receive a "Beat the Bruins" t-shirt!
IN THE NATION
USC is unranked in the latest AP and Coaches polls.
SCOUTING UCLA
The No. 7 Bruins are 16-0 and 5-0 in Pac-12 play after beating Utah 84-54 and Colorado 65-62 last week. Michaela Onyenware leads UCLA with 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to the 1971-72 season, USC is 49-48 all-time against the Bruins. Last year, USC lost to UCLA 72-65 at Galen Center and then beat the Bruins 72-67 in Westwood. This season, USC lost at UCLA 83-59 on Dec. 29.
INJURY REPORT
Shalexxus Aaron (foot) and Madison Campbell (back) have not yet competed for USC this season due to injury. Aaron is expected to return. Stephanie Watts (knee) has missed recent games, and her return is uncertain.
LAST ACTION
USC dropped two games in its first Pac-12 road trip of the season, falling 66-53 at Colorado and 67-65 at Utah last week. The Trojans were undone by a big third quarter from host Colorado, which landed five 3-pointers in that frame to take over the lead and work its way toward the final 66-53 win in Boulder. USC outpaced Colorado's 25-percent shooting in the first half by going 31.3 percent from the floor with a balanced attack fueled by offense from four Trojans. Senior Kayla Overbeck led USC with seven points and four rebounds at the break, and she'd become the first player in double digits in the game. But after allowing just seven points by the Buffs in the second quarter, USC saw Colorado explode for 27 in the third thanks in large part to five 3-pointers landed as the hosts turned a five-point USC lead into a 50-37 Colorado advantage by the end of the third. Colorado's offensive outburst left the Buffs shooting 38.3 percent from the floor in the game to USC's 29 percent. The Buffs nailed nine 3-pointers to three by the Trojans and outrebounded their visitors 50-31. USC shot 53.6 percent from the floor in the second half. USC wound up with Angel Jackson as its top scorer with 12 points, while Overbeck and Endyia Rogers had 11 apiece. Colorado received a game-high 13 points from Quinessa Caylao-Do and Emma Clarke, who also hit three 3-pointers each for the Buffs. Two days later in Salt Lake City, USC hit a season-high nine 3-pointers and fought through 14 lead changes, but it was Utah's hotter hands that prevailed as the Utes nailed 11 threes to eke out a 67-65 win over the visiting Trojans. USC was up by five with 4:30 to go before Utah landed three 3-pointers in the next couple minutes to take the lead and fend off the Trojans. The lead traded hands six times in the first half as each team planted five 3-pointers apiece. Desiree Caldwell had a new career high in place by halftime with her four 3-pointers, and USC was shooting 38.7 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from 3-point land through the first 20 minutes. Utah was hitting at 37.9 percent overall and 38.5 from beyond the arc. The threes continued to fall in the next half, although Utah proved the hotter hand in the end. USC would wrap the game shooting 37.1 percent overall and 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from 3-point range. Utah won out on the board 40-37 and finished up at 37.5 percent overall while going 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) from 3-point land. USC had five Trojans score in double digits for the first time this season. Alissa Pili pumped in 16 points and added eight rebounds to lead USC. Desiree Caldwell had 14 points along with a career-high four 3-pointers made, while Kayla Overbeck added 12 points and Aliyah Jeune and Endyia Rogers had 10 points apiece for the Trojans. Six Utes hit 3-pointers in the game, with Daneesha Provo leading with three made on the way to a game-high 17 points. Kemery Martín added 12 for Utah. Down 54-50 entering the fourth, USC tightened up its defense in the next stretch, holding Utah to just a trip to the free-throw line while USC poured on another three and got some power work down low from Pili and Overbeck to go back on top. Overbeck held her ground from the stripe as well, getting into double digits herself while taking USC ahead 61-56 with 4:30 left. Utah woke up for the next couple minutes, landing three more 3-pointers around an Overbeck bucket, and the Utes got up again with a 65-63 advantage with 2:20 to go. That advantage would stand through to the final minute, when Utah got to the line and landed two more free throws to go up 67-63 with 41 seconds on the clock. Pili then planted two free throws at 38 seconds to make it a two-point game. USC's defense forced a shot clock violation by the Utes next and called timeout to set up with 7 seconds left. Off the inbounds, USC got into the lane, but the attempt at an equalizer was no good and time ran out on the Trojans' hopes of force OT as Utah escaped with the 67-65 victory.
THE "VETS"
Of USC's three seniors on the roster, only post Kayla Overbeck has logged minutes in Cardinal and Gold. Overbeck joined the Trojans as a transfer from Vanderbilt last season. Now, she's flanked by two other transfers — guards Stephanie Watts (from North Carolina) and Aliyah Jeune (from Morehead State) — who are playing out their remaining eligibility as Trojans. Overbeck, Shalexxus Aaron and sophomore guard Desiree Caldwell are USC's three returners from the 2018-19 season that saw the Trojans come up just shy of a postseason push with a 17-13 overall record.
THE NEW CLASS
Nine new faces are on the roster for 2019-20. In addition to grad transfers Aliyah Jeune and Stephanie Watts, USC has seven true freshmen in the mix, with two of those young guns standing out as USC's top scorers to date. Freshman forward Alissa Pili leads USC with 12.6 points and 7.5 rebounds points per game so far, while guard Endyia Rogers is just a step behind, averaging 11.3 points per game. Pili also already has hauled in five double-doubles as a Trojan. Pili has fellow freshman Angel Jackson also making an impact in the paint with 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while the rest of the freshman class makes for a talented back court in guards Madison Campbell, Alyson Miura, India Otto and Kyra White.
STEPH SCORES A WATCH LIST SPOT
As she set up for her first season as a Trojan, grad transfer Stephanie Watts earned a place on the Preseason Watch List for the prestigious Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Watts is one of 20 candidates on the Preseason Watch List, as announced Oct. 22 by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Watts joins the Women of Troy this season as a grad transfer from North Carolina, where she was the 2016 ACC Freshman of the Year and later led the team in 3-pointers made as a redshirt junior last season. In her three seasons as a Tar Heel, she scored 1,320 points. In her final season, she averaged 15.2 point, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while knocking down 82 threes. Named after the first player, male or female, named to the All-America Team in four straight college seasons, the annual Ann Meyers Drysdale Award — in its third year — recognizes the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
PREP STARS
Several Women of Troy had especially decorated high school careers. Two were McDonald's All-Americans — Angel Jackson and Stephanie Watts — with Jackson also earning Jordan Brand honors, and Watts as an Naismith High School All-American honoree. Two Trojans also were their state Player of the Year — Alissa Pili (Alaska) and Endyia Rogers (Texas).
LAST SEASON
USC finished up the 2018-19 season with a 17-13 overall record after going 7-11 in Pac-12 play and with a loss in the Pac-12 Tournament first round. Seniors Aliyah Mazyck and Mariya Moore and junior Minyon Moore earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, with Mazyck and Minyon Moore both also landing on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.
CLEAR BAGS, PLEASE!
At Galen Center, the safety of our guests is of paramount importance. With that in mind, beginning January 1, 2018, Galen Center has implemented enhanced security measures including a clear bag policy. To review the policy and to ensure you come to your next event at Galen Center fully prepared please go to: www.galencenter.org/assets/img/Clear-Bag-Policy-0b9d0e3076.jpg. Thank you and Fight On! •
Women's Basketball Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Media Availability 9/18/25
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USC WBB's Lindsay Gottlieb, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen | Trojan Press Conference
Monday, March 31
USC WBB heads to the Elite 8, defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16 | Rapid Reaction
Saturday, March 29
Kennedy Smith on USC WBB heading to the Elite Eight, Trojan freshmen getting the job done
Saturday, March 29
