Friday, January 24
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:00 PM
USC
vs
Washington State
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Josh Dunst/USC Athletics
USC Women Stick To Home Turf For Pac-12 Tilts With WSU & Washington
January 21, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Features
Trojans host the Cougars on Friday night and take on the Huskies at noon on Sunday at Galen Center.
USC (9-8, 1-5) vs. WSU (9-9, 2-4)
Galen Center | Los Angeles
Friday, Jan. 24 | 7 p.m.Â
Series Record: USC leads 50-18
Home: 23-7 | Away: 20-11 | Neutral: 3-0
Last Meeting: W, 81-73 (Feb. 3, 2019 • Los Angeles)
Current Streak: USC won 4
TV: Pac-12 Washington (PbB: Jim Watson; Analyst: Monique Billings)
USC (9-8, 1-5) vs. Washington (10-7, 2-4)
Galen Center | Los Angeles
Sunday, Jan. 24 | 12 p.m.Â
Series Record: USC trails 31-36
Home: 18-13 | Away: 11-21 | Neutral: 2-2
Last Meeting: W, 82-57 (Feb. 1, 2019 • Los Angeles)
Current Streak: USC won 2
TV: Pac-12 Washington  (PbB: Jim Watson; Analyst: Tammy Blackburn)
THIS WEEKÂ
USC looks to build momentum after upsetting rival UCLA last week. The Trojans (9-8, 1-50 Pac-12) stay on home turf this week, hosting Washington State (9-9, 2-4) in a 7 p.m. clash on Friday (Jan. 24) at Galen Center. From there, USC turns to take on Washington (10-7, 2-4) at 12 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 26).
Â
Â
IN THE NATION
USC is unranked in the latest AP and Coaches polls.Â
Â
Â
SCOUTING WSU
The Cougars are 9-9 overall and 2-4 in Pac-12 player after losing 74-67 to Arizona and falling 65-56 to Arizona State last week. Borislava Hristova leads WSU in scoring with 19.1 points per game, and Chanelle Molina leads on the board with 6.1 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to the 1981-82 season, USC is 50-18 all-time against the Cougars. Last year, USC beat WSU 81-73 in their only Pac-12 meeting at Galen Center.
Â
Â
SCOUTING UW
The Huskies are 10-7 overall and 2-4 in Pac-12 play after a 67-50 loss to Arizona State and a 66-58 loss to Arizona last week. Amber Melgoza leads Washington in scoring with 15.4 points per game, and Haley Van Dyke leads on the board with 6.2 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to the 1986-87 season, USC is 31-36 all-time against the Huskies. Last year, USC beat Washington 82-57 in their only Pac-12 meeting at Galen Center.
Â
Â
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.
Â
Â
LAST ACTION
USC was down by six in double overtime and fought back to upset No. 7 UCLA 70-68 on Friday night at Galen Center, handing the Bruins their first loss of the season to take out the only remaining undefeated team in the nation. Aliyah Jeune was the driving force for the Trojans in this one, hitting six 3-pointers and finishing with 27 points to go along with a 13 rebounds. But it was freshman Alissa Pili who calmly converted a three-point play with 28 seconds left that lifted USC to the winning margin, and USC fended off its crosstown rival in the final stretch to earn the victory. USC trailed by six out of the gates but eked out a slim lead, fighting through seven lead changes in the first 10 minutes. During that time, though, UCLA went cold, landing a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:10 on the clock and then stalling out. Only free throws fell for the Bruins for the rest of the half — two in the first quarter and only two in the second while the Trojans crafted a 30-17 halftime lead with a 12-0 rally to top it off. USC would wrap the first half shooting 39.4 percent from the floor to UCLA's 18.2 percent. USC also had the edge on the boards 25-21 by the break. Madness ensued as the rivals went toe-to-toe through double overtime for the first time in the programs' history. At the close of regulation, UCLA had warmed up to 26.8 percent from the floor while USC was at 37.5. By the final buzzer of the second overtime, a victorious USC had shot 39.1 percent overall to UCLA's 29.9 percent. Both teams hit eight 3-pointers — and made eight free throws — in the game, while USC won out on the boards 57-47. The Trojans saw Aliyah Jeune match her USC best of 27 points while notching her first double-double as a Trojan with her career-high 13 rebounds. Alissa Pili secured her sixth double-double with her 19 points and 17 rebounds, and Desiree Caldwell joined her teammates in double figures with 10 points on the night, while Kayla Overbeck hauled in 10 rebounds for the Trojan cause. In all, USC and UCLA fought through 15 lead changes before the Trojans edged ahead to stay.Â
Â
Â
PILI IS THE PAC-12 PICK
After providing the game-winning basket with 29 seconds left in double overtime to upset undefeated rival UCLA, freshman forward Alissa Pili earned honors as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Jan. 20. Pili punched up 19 points and hauled in a career-high 17 rebounds in the 70-68 victory over the No. 7 Bruins. Pili's heroic three-point play in the final stretch of double overtime was the difference in USC's win, which was the Trojans' first over a top-10 opponent since 2017. The victory also snapped a five-game losing skid for USC, while also putting a stop to UCLA's claim as the only undefeated team in the nation. With her 19 points and 17 rebounds, Pili recorded her sixth double-double of the year along with her 11th game scoring in double figures. In the second 5-minute overtime alone, Pili had six points and four rebounds to help anchor USC's comeback from a six-point deficit to victory. Pili is the first Pac-12 honoree from USC this season. The last Trojan to be named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week was Shalexxus Aaron on Feb. 5, 2019.
Â
Â
THE "VETS"Â
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. She's flanked on the roster this season by two other transfers — guards Stephanie Watts (from North Carolina) and Aliyah Jeune (from Morehead State) — who have chosen to play 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. Â
Â
Â
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 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds points per game so far, while guard Endyia Rogers  is just a step behind, averaging 11.1 points per game. Pili also already has hauled in six double-doubles as a Trojan. Pili has fellow freshman Angel Jackson also making an impact in the paint with 7.6 points and 5.4 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.Â
Â
Â
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.
Â
Â
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).
Â
Â
LAST SEASONÂ
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.Â
Â
Â
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
Thursday, September 18
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
