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Salt Lake City, Utah
6:00 PM
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Photo by: WSU Photo Services
USC Women’s Basketball Pays Visits To Ranked Opponents Utah And Colorado
January 24, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Trojans face No. 9 Utes on Friday in Salt Lake City and visit No. 25 Buffs on Sunday in Boulder.
USC (15-4, 5-3) at #9 Utah (16-2, 6-2)
Huntsman Center | Salt Lake City, Utah
Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.
Series Record (since 1977-78): USC leads 18-8 (W1)
TV: P12 Mountain (Talent: Krista Blunk & Anthony Levrets)
STREAM | STATS
USC at #25 Colorado (15-4, 6-2)
CU Events Center | Boulder, Colo.
Sunday, Jan. 22 | 12 p.m.
Series Record (since 2002-03): USC leads 15-11 (L3)
TV: P12 Los Angeles (Talent: Jenny Cavnar & Kami Carmann Snyder)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC has another Pac-12 road trip on tap with a visit to the nationally ranked Mountain schools this week. The Trojans (15-4, 5-3 Pac-12) visit No. 9 Utah (16-2, 6-2) for a 7 p.m. MT game on Friday (Jan. 27) in Salt Lake City before heading to Boulder to take on No. 25 Colorado (15-4, 6-2) at 12 p.m. MT on Sunday (Jan. 29).
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's USC-Utah clash will be broadcast on Pac-12 Mountain with Krista Blunk and Anthony Levrets on the call. Sunday's game vs. the Buffs will air on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Jenny Cavnar and Kami Carmann Snyder on that call. Games will also stream live at pac-12.com/live.
IN THE POLLS
USC is receiving votes in both polls in the latest round of national rankings (as of Jan. 24). USC enters this week rated 29 in the NET rankings. USC was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today poll.
USC IN THE NATION
USC enters the week ranked as the No. 5 team in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 51.4 points per game percent through its 15-4 start to the season. The Trojans also are top-10 in three other categories: 3-point percentage defense (6th — 24.6%), field goal percentage defense (7th‚ 33.6%) and blocks per game (7th - 5.7 bpg). USC also ranks 33rd in the land with 10.3 steals per game.
TROJANS IN THE NATION
Individually, USC enters the week with players making their marks on the national stat sheets. With 3.12 blocks per game, Rayah Marshall ranks No. 3 in the nation. She's also No. 6 in total blocks (53) and No. 25 in total double-doubles with nine. Marshall also is making her mark on the boards, ranked No. 13 with her 10.9 rebounds per game and No. 9 with 8.0 defensive rebounds per game. Another Trojan in the nation's top-30 to date is Destiny Littleton, who ranks 28th with a free-throw percentage of 89.0.
DESTINY DOES IT
Guard Destiny Littleton has grabbed her first honor as the Pac-12 Player of the Week after her instrumental role in leading the Trojans to a sweep of the Bay Area schools, topped off with a statement-making upset of No. 2 Stanford at Galen Center. Littleton tallied a game-high 18 points in both wins and served up five assists against Cal and six against Stanford. In the Trojans' 55-46 win over the Cardinal, Littleton played the full 40 minutes to help anchor USC's first win over an opponent ranked No. 2 or better since 2008. USC's upset also snapped the Cardinal's 39-game win streak against Pac-12 opponents. Defensively, USC held Stanford to its lowest point total since 2016. It was USC's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 12-point win in 1993. Littleton recorded double digits in three straight game as she leads the team with 13 double-digit outings this season. She is the second Trojan to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week this season and 52nd all-time, following teammate Rayah Marshall's win on Jan. 2.
RAYAH REIGNS AS PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall was the driving force for the Trojans in a key Pac-12 road split, ringing in the new year with her first career selection as the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Jan. 2. The versatile forward made her mark in the USC history books with the most points scored by a Trojan since 2019 when she pinned up a career-high 33 points in the Trojans' win at Oregon State on Dec. 30. She'd haul in 16 rebounds in that one and keep her blocks streak alive and well with four in USC's victory. It was the just the seventh 30-point and 15-rebound double-double by any player in the NCAA this season and the first such outing by a Trojan since at least 1999-2000. Marshall also accounted for 16 of USC's 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Beavers and had over half USC's total team rebounds in the win. At No. 17 Oregon on New Year's Day, Marshall continued her blocks streak in stretching her run to 34 straight games with at least one block while also tallying her fifth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It is the first career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for Marshall and the 51st overall for the Women of Troy all-time.
SUCCESS IN SEATTLE
USC received a season-high 20 points from Destiny Littleton, including a 6-for-6 stand from the free-throw line in overtime as the Trojans claimed their fourth straight win on a 63-54 OT victory today at Washington. Washington was going to work in the paint early to build out a lead on the visiting Trojans, who trailed 26-22 at halftime after the Huskies had opened things with an 8-0 lead. USC shot 42.9 percent from the floor in those first 20 minutes, while Washington was hitting at a 45.8-percent clip and led on the boards 13-12 by the break. USC had a five-point lead in place in the final minute of regulation before UW leveled it for the sixth time to force OT, but the Huskies' surprising late 3-pointer was the last to go through the hoop for UW. USC rendered the Huskies scoreless in overtime on the way to the win, finishing up shooting 45.8 percent from the floor overall to outpace Washington's 39 percent finish. USC trailed on the boards 34-31. Littleton led all scorers with her 20 points for the Trojans, joined by Kadi Sissoko and Okako Adika in double digits with 15 and 10 points, respectively. The boards were controlled by Rayah Marshall, who hauled in 16 rebounds while notching a career-high eight blocks — third most in a game by a Trojan in program history. USC gripped a five-point advantage entering the final minute of regulation, and still had that intact with 16 seconds remaining as Littleton stepped to the stripe to make two more. But the Huskies struck back with 12 ticks to go, then managed to land a three with three seconds on the clock to equalizer and force overtime. In OT, however, it was all USC, thanks to a continued strong stand from the line from Littleton and pesky defense from the Trojans. Marshall and Adika nabbed two steals apiece while Marshall drummed up her career-high eighth block of the day to help render the Huskies scoreless in those final five minutes and wrap a 64-54 USC road win.
NOTABLE:
- With a career-high eight blocks, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 40 consecutive games played.
- Marshall's eight blocks marked the third most ever by a Trojan and the most since Asiah Jones in 2016.
- With 16 rebounds, Marshall recorded double-digit rebounds for the 11th time this season.
- Marshall also recorded a career-high five steals.
- With a season-high 20 points, GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for a team-leading 14th time this season.
- With 15 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored in double digits for the 12th time this season.
- Now 15-4 overall, USC has recorded its best 19-game start since also going 17-2 in 1993-94.
- Washington's seven points scored in the second quarter marked the 16th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- Now at 5-3 in Pac-12 play, USC is off to its best eight-game conference start since going 7-1 in 2013-14.
SETTING UP A ROAD SWEEP
USC put forth another ferocious defensive effort — this one on the road — in keeping another conference opponent under 50 points for the third straight game with the Trojans' 51-44 victory over host Washington State in Pullman. It's the first time in the Pac-10/Pac-12 conference era that USC has accomplished such a defensive feat, and it also scored the Trojans their third straight win. USC is now 14-4 overall and 4-3 in Pac-12 play, marking USC's best 18-game start since opening 14-4 in 2015-16. WSU was outshooting the Trojans in the first half, but USC got the buckets it needed to break up a first-quarter tie and lead it 26-23 at halftime thanks in large part to 15 first-half points from Kadi Sissoko. USC was shooting 33 percent to the floor to trail the Cougars' 41 percent effort by the break, but was up on the boards 20-15 and had converted 11 WSU turnovers into seven points to help claim that halftime advantage. USC would lead it by as much as 13 in the second half and was up 49-36 with 7:20 to go before the Cougars made things interesting and got within five. USC held its ground defensively in the final three minutes, though, and closed out the win shooting 36.7 percent from the floor and leading on the boards 38-29. WSU shots 35.3 percent overall, and both teams hit five 3-pointers apiece. In her first game back since Dec. 30, Sissoko would finish with a game-high 19 points for the Trojans, with Rayah Marshall leading all on the boards with 13 rebounds on the night.
NOTABLE:
- In holding WSU to 44 points, the Trojans held a conference opponent to under 50 points for a third straight game —the first time in the Pac-10/12 conference era that USC has done so.
- With 19 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored in double digits for the 11th time; it was her first action since Dec. 30 as she had missed the past four games with injury.
- With 13 rebounds, SO Rayah Marshall recorded double-digit rebounds for the 10th time this season.
- With two blocks, Marshall has recorded at least one block in 39 consecutive games played.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high with two blocks.
TOP-2 TAKEDOWN
USC shocked the No. 2 team in the nation, handing Stanford just its second loss of the year as the Trojans never trailed the Cardinal on the way to a 55-46 victory today at Galen Center. It was the first win for USC over a No. 2 opponent since the Trojans topped Stanford at home in 2008 and second win over an AP top-five opponent under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. The home sweep was anchored by Destiny Littleton, who scored another game-high 18 points to help her Trojans improve to 13-4 overall and to 3-3 in Pac-12 play. USC never trailed in the first half after taking a quick 6-0 lead on Stanford. The Trojans and the Cardinal each shot 29 percent overall in the first twenty minutes, but USC had landed three 3-pointers to just one by Stanford to help lead it 24-19 at halftime. USC was up 20-18 on the boards to that point to help keep the Cardinal at bay. Try as it may, Stanford was unable to shake the Trojans, who built a 10-point lead entering the fourth and found the points they needed to stay in front. By the final buzzer, USC had shot just 27.3 percent from the floor, but was 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19) to counter the Cardinal's 30.9 percent overall shooting and 4-of-21 effort from beyond the arc. USC committed just seven turnovers to 14 by the Cardinal, who did win out on the boards 40-36. USC received a game-high 18 points from Destiny Littleton along with the first double-double of Okako Adika's season as a Trojan on 11 points and 11 rebounds. USC played just seven Trojans in the game, while Stanford had 13 Cardinal see action, with Cameron Brink the only one in double digits with 11 points and 14 rebounds on the day.
NOTABLE:
- USC defeated a team ranked No. 2 or better for the first time since January 6, 2008 (defeated No. 2 Stanford 73-72).
- USC collects its second victory vs. an AP top-five team under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb (defeated No. 4 Arizona January 9, 2022)
- USC secured its first victory over Stanford since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament semifinals (March 8), snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Cardinal.
- USC's seven turnovers were a season low.
- Stanford's four points scored in the first quarter marked the 14th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- USC held Stanford to four first-quarter points, the fewest Stanford has scored in a quarter all season.
- Stanford's four first-quarter points tied the fewest allowed by USC (last vs. CSU Bakersfield) this season.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low halftime score of 19 points.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low 46 points, a season-low 30% (17-55) from the field and a season low 19% (4-21) from three.
- Stanford's 46 points marks the ninth time USC held an opponent under 50 points this season and was the fewest Stanford has scored in a game since 2016.
- For the seventh time this season USC never trailed during the game.
- USC's eight 3-pointers made were the most against a Pac-12 opponent this season.
- USC's 27%(15-55) from the field is the lowest in program history during a victory.
- USC completed their first home sweep of the Bay Area schools (California and Stanford) since the 2003-04 season.
- The 55-46 win was UCS's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 67-55 home win on January 18, 1993.
- With 18 pts GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the 13th time this season — it was her second straight game with a game-high 18 points.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high of three 3-pointers made.
- GS Okako Adika earned her first double-double at USC with 11 pts and 11 rebounds (third career double-double).
SMART START
The USC squad set new academic records with its performance in the classroom in Fall 2022. The group's Fall 2022 semester GPA of 3.344 and cumulative team GPA of 3.329 were the best marks on record for the Women of Troy.
TRANSFER TIME
USC grad transfers Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton have emerged as top impact players in their first season as Trojans. Sissoko and Littleton are averaging 15.5 and 12.3 points per game, respectively. Littleton has provided double digits in a team-high 14 games this season, and Sissoko has done so in 12 games in spite of being sidelined for five games with injuries. Sissoko also has recorded three games with 20+ points.
COMING UP BIG
USC redshirt freshman transfer Taylor Bigby is hitting her stride as a Trojan, now with at least one 3-pointer scored in seven of USC's last 10 games. She averaged 2.8 points per game in the first five games of the year, and has averaged 7.3 ppg in the last 14 games thanks in part to a career-high 21 points vs. Merrimack.
RAYAH'S PAC-12 POWER
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall added to her Pac-12 accolades with her earning of All-Pac-12 Preseason Honorable Mention from the media. The top-ranked freshman in the nation in blocks last season, Marshall is back for more in her second year as a Trojan. Marshall earned All-Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention last year, and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She was USC's third leading scorer with 11. 3 points per game while dominating the boards with a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with her 2.54 blocks per game — ranking her No. 12 overall in the nation in that category in 2021-22. So far in her 2022-23 sophomore campaign, Marshall has made an indelible mark with her 33-point outing in USC's win at Oregon State. Averaging 13.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game to date, she's collected nine double-doubles this season and is one of the nation's top blockers with her 3.12 blocks per game.
2022-23 TROJANS
The Women of Troy are a dynamic group with solid returning talent along with a powerful group of newcomers. The 2022-23 roster features All-Pac-12 honoree Rayah Marshall and its top 3-point scorer Alyson Miura returning from last season, in addition to seven transfers ready to hit the court in Cardinal and Gold. USC's group of grad transfers features an NCAA champion in Destiny Littleton along with three standout internationals in Kadi Sissoko, Rokia Doumbia and Okako Adika. USC has also welcomed undergraduate transfers Kayla Williams, Koi Love and Taylor Bigby to the Trojan Family.
MID-YEAR MAGIC
USC's backcourt gets another boost with the addition of 5-9 guard Dominique Onu, who has come to Troy as a mid-year transfer from UCLA. After two seasons with the Bruins, the Florida native joined the Trojans in January 2023 and will compete for USC starting in Fall 2023. Ranked as the No. 26 recruit in the nation in 2021, Onu prepped at Blair Academy in New Jersey before signing on with UCLA, where she enrolled early as a true freshman in 2020-21. Onu played in 16 games as a freshman and in 27 with seven starts as a sophomore last season. She averaged 5.4 points per game in her sophomore season and set her career high with 16 points at Oregon. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Onu helped Blair Academy win the NJISAA State title as a junior in 2020, averaging 15.8 points per game that year.
SIGNED!
JUJU WATKINS | Sierra Canyon HS (Watts, Calif.)
The USC women's basketball program has the stage set for some serious star power with the addition of the nation's top high school player, guard JuJu Watkins, who signed a national letter of intent to join the Women of Troy in 2023. Heralded as the best in the USA, Watkins named the 2022 MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a junior. A native of Watts, Calif., Watkins is sticking to her Los Angeles roots in becoming a Trojan. In addition to her numerous California state accolades, she also brings in significant international experience as a member of the United States U-17 and U-16 national teams. She was named the MVP of the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in helping Team USA to a gold medal at that event. And in 2021, she was the MVP of the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, where the U.S. squad also won gold. The 6-1 guard has played club ball for Sports Academy Swish GBL. And in her junior season with Sierra Canyon, Watkins piled up state honors as the Gatorade California Girls Basketball Player of the Year, CIF Mc. Basketball State Player of the Year, Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year in 2022.
MALIA SAMUELS | Garfield HS (Seattle, Wash.)
USC gets another guard stronger with the addition of Seattle product Malia Samuels, who signed a national letter of intent to become a Trojan. A 5-6 guard, Samuels was the 2021-22 3A Washington State Player of the Year as a junior. Also named State Tournament MVP that season, she was an All-State First Team honoree. A regular on all-state honor rolls and the 2022 Metro League Player of the Year, she averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 assist, 6.1 steals and 3.4 rebounds per game at the guard slots. At the club level, she has competed for Greyhounds and is considered the top girls basketball recruit out of the state of Washington in this 2023 class. •
Huntsman Center | Salt Lake City, Utah
Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.
Series Record (since 1977-78): USC leads 18-8 (W1)
TV: P12 Mountain (Talent: Krista Blunk & Anthony Levrets)
STREAM | STATS
USC at #25 Colorado (15-4, 6-2)
CU Events Center | Boulder, Colo.
Sunday, Jan. 22 | 12 p.m.
Series Record (since 2002-03): USC leads 15-11 (L3)
TV: P12 Los Angeles (Talent: Jenny Cavnar & Kami Carmann Snyder)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC has another Pac-12 road trip on tap with a visit to the nationally ranked Mountain schools this week. The Trojans (15-4, 5-3 Pac-12) visit No. 9 Utah (16-2, 6-2) for a 7 p.m. MT game on Friday (Jan. 27) in Salt Lake City before heading to Boulder to take on No. 25 Colorado (15-4, 6-2) at 12 p.m. MT on Sunday (Jan. 29).
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's USC-Utah clash will be broadcast on Pac-12 Mountain with Krista Blunk and Anthony Levrets on the call. Sunday's game vs. the Buffs will air on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Jenny Cavnar and Kami Carmann Snyder on that call. Games will also stream live at pac-12.com/live.
IN THE POLLS
USC is receiving votes in both polls in the latest round of national rankings (as of Jan. 24). USC enters this week rated 29 in the NET rankings. USC was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today poll.
USC IN THE NATION
USC enters the week ranked as the No. 5 team in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 51.4 points per game percent through its 15-4 start to the season. The Trojans also are top-10 in three other categories: 3-point percentage defense (6th — 24.6%), field goal percentage defense (7th‚ 33.6%) and blocks per game (7th - 5.7 bpg). USC also ranks 33rd in the land with 10.3 steals per game.
TROJANS IN THE NATION
Individually, USC enters the week with players making their marks on the national stat sheets. With 3.12 blocks per game, Rayah Marshall ranks No. 3 in the nation. She's also No. 6 in total blocks (53) and No. 25 in total double-doubles with nine. Marshall also is making her mark on the boards, ranked No. 13 with her 10.9 rebounds per game and No. 9 with 8.0 defensive rebounds per game. Another Trojan in the nation's top-30 to date is Destiny Littleton, who ranks 28th with a free-throw percentage of 89.0.
DESTINY DOES IT
Guard Destiny Littleton has grabbed her first honor as the Pac-12 Player of the Week after her instrumental role in leading the Trojans to a sweep of the Bay Area schools, topped off with a statement-making upset of No. 2 Stanford at Galen Center. Littleton tallied a game-high 18 points in both wins and served up five assists against Cal and six against Stanford. In the Trojans' 55-46 win over the Cardinal, Littleton played the full 40 minutes to help anchor USC's first win over an opponent ranked No. 2 or better since 2008. USC's upset also snapped the Cardinal's 39-game win streak against Pac-12 opponents. Defensively, USC held Stanford to its lowest point total since 2016. It was USC's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 12-point win in 1993. Littleton recorded double digits in three straight game as she leads the team with 13 double-digit outings this season. She is the second Trojan to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week this season and 52nd all-time, following teammate Rayah Marshall's win on Jan. 2.
RAYAH REIGNS AS PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall was the driving force for the Trojans in a key Pac-12 road split, ringing in the new year with her first career selection as the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Jan. 2. The versatile forward made her mark in the USC history books with the most points scored by a Trojan since 2019 when she pinned up a career-high 33 points in the Trojans' win at Oregon State on Dec. 30. She'd haul in 16 rebounds in that one and keep her blocks streak alive and well with four in USC's victory. It was the just the seventh 30-point and 15-rebound double-double by any player in the NCAA this season and the first such outing by a Trojan since at least 1999-2000. Marshall also accounted for 16 of USC's 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Beavers and had over half USC's total team rebounds in the win. At No. 17 Oregon on New Year's Day, Marshall continued her blocks streak in stretching her run to 34 straight games with at least one block while also tallying her fifth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It is the first career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for Marshall and the 51st overall for the Women of Troy all-time.
SUCCESS IN SEATTLE
USC received a season-high 20 points from Destiny Littleton, including a 6-for-6 stand from the free-throw line in overtime as the Trojans claimed their fourth straight win on a 63-54 OT victory today at Washington. Washington was going to work in the paint early to build out a lead on the visiting Trojans, who trailed 26-22 at halftime after the Huskies had opened things with an 8-0 lead. USC shot 42.9 percent from the floor in those first 20 minutes, while Washington was hitting at a 45.8-percent clip and led on the boards 13-12 by the break. USC had a five-point lead in place in the final minute of regulation before UW leveled it for the sixth time to force OT, but the Huskies' surprising late 3-pointer was the last to go through the hoop for UW. USC rendered the Huskies scoreless in overtime on the way to the win, finishing up shooting 45.8 percent from the floor overall to outpace Washington's 39 percent finish. USC trailed on the boards 34-31. Littleton led all scorers with her 20 points for the Trojans, joined by Kadi Sissoko and Okako Adika in double digits with 15 and 10 points, respectively. The boards were controlled by Rayah Marshall, who hauled in 16 rebounds while notching a career-high eight blocks — third most in a game by a Trojan in program history. USC gripped a five-point advantage entering the final minute of regulation, and still had that intact with 16 seconds remaining as Littleton stepped to the stripe to make two more. But the Huskies struck back with 12 ticks to go, then managed to land a three with three seconds on the clock to equalizer and force overtime. In OT, however, it was all USC, thanks to a continued strong stand from the line from Littleton and pesky defense from the Trojans. Marshall and Adika nabbed two steals apiece while Marshall drummed up her career-high eighth block of the day to help render the Huskies scoreless in those final five minutes and wrap a 64-54 USC road win.
NOTABLE:
- With a career-high eight blocks, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 40 consecutive games played.
- Marshall's eight blocks marked the third most ever by a Trojan and the most since Asiah Jones in 2016.
- With 16 rebounds, Marshall recorded double-digit rebounds for the 11th time this season.
- Marshall also recorded a career-high five steals.
- With a season-high 20 points, GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for a team-leading 14th time this season.
- With 15 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored in double digits for the 12th time this season.
- Now 15-4 overall, USC has recorded its best 19-game start since also going 17-2 in 1993-94.
- Washington's seven points scored in the second quarter marked the 16th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- Now at 5-3 in Pac-12 play, USC is off to its best eight-game conference start since going 7-1 in 2013-14.
SETTING UP A ROAD SWEEP
USC put forth another ferocious defensive effort — this one on the road — in keeping another conference opponent under 50 points for the third straight game with the Trojans' 51-44 victory over host Washington State in Pullman. It's the first time in the Pac-10/Pac-12 conference era that USC has accomplished such a defensive feat, and it also scored the Trojans their third straight win. USC is now 14-4 overall and 4-3 in Pac-12 play, marking USC's best 18-game start since opening 14-4 in 2015-16. WSU was outshooting the Trojans in the first half, but USC got the buckets it needed to break up a first-quarter tie and lead it 26-23 at halftime thanks in large part to 15 first-half points from Kadi Sissoko. USC was shooting 33 percent to the floor to trail the Cougars' 41 percent effort by the break, but was up on the boards 20-15 and had converted 11 WSU turnovers into seven points to help claim that halftime advantage. USC would lead it by as much as 13 in the second half and was up 49-36 with 7:20 to go before the Cougars made things interesting and got within five. USC held its ground defensively in the final three minutes, though, and closed out the win shooting 36.7 percent from the floor and leading on the boards 38-29. WSU shots 35.3 percent overall, and both teams hit five 3-pointers apiece. In her first game back since Dec. 30, Sissoko would finish with a game-high 19 points for the Trojans, with Rayah Marshall leading all on the boards with 13 rebounds on the night.
NOTABLE:
- In holding WSU to 44 points, the Trojans held a conference opponent to under 50 points for a third straight game —the first time in the Pac-10/12 conference era that USC has done so.
- With 19 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored in double digits for the 11th time; it was her first action since Dec. 30 as she had missed the past four games with injury.
- With 13 rebounds, SO Rayah Marshall recorded double-digit rebounds for the 10th time this season.
- With two blocks, Marshall has recorded at least one block in 39 consecutive games played.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high with two blocks.
TOP-2 TAKEDOWN
USC shocked the No. 2 team in the nation, handing Stanford just its second loss of the year as the Trojans never trailed the Cardinal on the way to a 55-46 victory today at Galen Center. It was the first win for USC over a No. 2 opponent since the Trojans topped Stanford at home in 2008 and second win over an AP top-five opponent under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. The home sweep was anchored by Destiny Littleton, who scored another game-high 18 points to help her Trojans improve to 13-4 overall and to 3-3 in Pac-12 play. USC never trailed in the first half after taking a quick 6-0 lead on Stanford. The Trojans and the Cardinal each shot 29 percent overall in the first twenty minutes, but USC had landed three 3-pointers to just one by Stanford to help lead it 24-19 at halftime. USC was up 20-18 on the boards to that point to help keep the Cardinal at bay. Try as it may, Stanford was unable to shake the Trojans, who built a 10-point lead entering the fourth and found the points they needed to stay in front. By the final buzzer, USC had shot just 27.3 percent from the floor, but was 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19) to counter the Cardinal's 30.9 percent overall shooting and 4-of-21 effort from beyond the arc. USC committed just seven turnovers to 14 by the Cardinal, who did win out on the boards 40-36. USC received a game-high 18 points from Destiny Littleton along with the first double-double of Okako Adika's season as a Trojan on 11 points and 11 rebounds. USC played just seven Trojans in the game, while Stanford had 13 Cardinal see action, with Cameron Brink the only one in double digits with 11 points and 14 rebounds on the day.
NOTABLE:
- USC defeated a team ranked No. 2 or better for the first time since January 6, 2008 (defeated No. 2 Stanford 73-72).
- USC collects its second victory vs. an AP top-five team under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb (defeated No. 4 Arizona January 9, 2022)
- USC secured its first victory over Stanford since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament semifinals (March 8), snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Cardinal.
- USC's seven turnovers were a season low.
- Stanford's four points scored in the first quarter marked the 14th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- USC held Stanford to four first-quarter points, the fewest Stanford has scored in a quarter all season.
- Stanford's four first-quarter points tied the fewest allowed by USC (last vs. CSU Bakersfield) this season.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low halftime score of 19 points.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low 46 points, a season-low 30% (17-55) from the field and a season low 19% (4-21) from three.
- Stanford's 46 points marks the ninth time USC held an opponent under 50 points this season and was the fewest Stanford has scored in a game since 2016.
- For the seventh time this season USC never trailed during the game.
- USC's eight 3-pointers made were the most against a Pac-12 opponent this season.
- USC's 27%(15-55) from the field is the lowest in program history during a victory.
- USC completed their first home sweep of the Bay Area schools (California and Stanford) since the 2003-04 season.
- The 55-46 win was UCS's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 67-55 home win on January 18, 1993.
- With 18 pts GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the 13th time this season — it was her second straight game with a game-high 18 points.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high of three 3-pointers made.
- GS Okako Adika earned her first double-double at USC with 11 pts and 11 rebounds (third career double-double).
SMART START
The USC squad set new academic records with its performance in the classroom in Fall 2022. The group's Fall 2022 semester GPA of 3.344 and cumulative team GPA of 3.329 were the best marks on record for the Women of Troy.
TRANSFER TIME
USC grad transfers Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton have emerged as top impact players in their first season as Trojans. Sissoko and Littleton are averaging 15.5 and 12.3 points per game, respectively. Littleton has provided double digits in a team-high 14 games this season, and Sissoko has done so in 12 games in spite of being sidelined for five games with injuries. Sissoko also has recorded three games with 20+ points.
COMING UP BIG
USC redshirt freshman transfer Taylor Bigby is hitting her stride as a Trojan, now with at least one 3-pointer scored in seven of USC's last 10 games. She averaged 2.8 points per game in the first five games of the year, and has averaged 7.3 ppg in the last 14 games thanks in part to a career-high 21 points vs. Merrimack.
RAYAH'S PAC-12 POWER
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall added to her Pac-12 accolades with her earning of All-Pac-12 Preseason Honorable Mention from the media. The top-ranked freshman in the nation in blocks last season, Marshall is back for more in her second year as a Trojan. Marshall earned All-Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention last year, and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She was USC's third leading scorer with 11. 3 points per game while dominating the boards with a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with her 2.54 blocks per game — ranking her No. 12 overall in the nation in that category in 2021-22. So far in her 2022-23 sophomore campaign, Marshall has made an indelible mark with her 33-point outing in USC's win at Oregon State. Averaging 13.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game to date, she's collected nine double-doubles this season and is one of the nation's top blockers with her 3.12 blocks per game.
2022-23 TROJANS
The Women of Troy are a dynamic group with solid returning talent along with a powerful group of newcomers. The 2022-23 roster features All-Pac-12 honoree Rayah Marshall and its top 3-point scorer Alyson Miura returning from last season, in addition to seven transfers ready to hit the court in Cardinal and Gold. USC's group of grad transfers features an NCAA champion in Destiny Littleton along with three standout internationals in Kadi Sissoko, Rokia Doumbia and Okako Adika. USC has also welcomed undergraduate transfers Kayla Williams, Koi Love and Taylor Bigby to the Trojan Family.
MID-YEAR MAGIC
USC's backcourt gets another boost with the addition of 5-9 guard Dominique Onu, who has come to Troy as a mid-year transfer from UCLA. After two seasons with the Bruins, the Florida native joined the Trojans in January 2023 and will compete for USC starting in Fall 2023. Ranked as the No. 26 recruit in the nation in 2021, Onu prepped at Blair Academy in New Jersey before signing on with UCLA, where she enrolled early as a true freshman in 2020-21. Onu played in 16 games as a freshman and in 27 with seven starts as a sophomore last season. She averaged 5.4 points per game in her sophomore season and set her career high with 16 points at Oregon. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Onu helped Blair Academy win the NJISAA State title as a junior in 2020, averaging 15.8 points per game that year.
SIGNED!
JUJU WATKINS | Sierra Canyon HS (Watts, Calif.)
The USC women's basketball program has the stage set for some serious star power with the addition of the nation's top high school player, guard JuJu Watkins, who signed a national letter of intent to join the Women of Troy in 2023. Heralded as the best in the USA, Watkins named the 2022 MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a junior. A native of Watts, Calif., Watkins is sticking to her Los Angeles roots in becoming a Trojan. In addition to her numerous California state accolades, she also brings in significant international experience as a member of the United States U-17 and U-16 national teams. She was named the MVP of the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in helping Team USA to a gold medal at that event. And in 2021, she was the MVP of the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, where the U.S. squad also won gold. The 6-1 guard has played club ball for Sports Academy Swish GBL. And in her junior season with Sierra Canyon, Watkins piled up state honors as the Gatorade California Girls Basketball Player of the Year, CIF Mc. Basketball State Player of the Year, Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year in 2022.
MALIA SAMUELS | Garfield HS (Seattle, Wash.)
USC gets another guard stronger with the addition of Seattle product Malia Samuels, who signed a national letter of intent to become a Trojan. A 5-6 guard, Samuels was the 2021-22 3A Washington State Player of the Year as a junior. Also named State Tournament MVP that season, she was an All-State First Team honoree. A regular on all-state honor rolls and the 2022 Metro League Player of the Year, she averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 assist, 6.1 steals and 3.4 rebounds per game at the guard slots. At the club level, she has competed for Greyhounds and is considered the top girls basketball recruit out of the state of Washington in this 2023 class. •
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
USC WBB Defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16, Advances to Elite Eight | Trojan Press Conference
Saturday, March 29
