USC
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South Carolina
4-0,0-0SEC
No. 8 USC Women’s Basketball Falls to No. 2 South Carolina 69-52
November 15, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Trojans come up short during “The Real SC” game at Crypto.com Arena.
LOS ANGELES — Despite a competitive first half and several momentum-building stretches, No. 8 USC women's basketball came up short against No. 2 South Carolina on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, falling 69–52. The Women of Troy briefly held a second-quarter lead and trailed by just two at halftime, but the Gamecocks' size, rebounding dominance and third-quarter surge ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Sophomore Kennedy Smith led USC with 12 points, while senior Kara Dunn added 10. Freshman Jazzy Davidson and junior Malia Samuels chipped in eight and six points, respectively. Sophomore Vivian Iwuchukwu also contributed seven points and three rebounds off the bench. As a team, USC shot 32.8 percent from the field and just 1-for-14 from three, while South Carolina controlled the glass by a decisive 56–32 margin and scored 44 points in the paint.
South Carolina opened the game on a 9–2 run after winning the opening tip, capitalizing on early USC turnovers. Sophomore Smith delivered USC's first points with a turnaround jumper, while senior Kara Dunn added a three-pointer and a pair of mid-range buckets to help the Trojans settle in. Sophomore Vivian Iwuchukwu provided a spark off the bench, scoring five first-quarter points and helping USC close to within 20–16 after one.
USC carried that momentum into the second period, tightening up defensively and holding South Carolina to 26.7 percent shooting in the frame. Jones opened the quarter with a pull-up jumper and freshman Davidson followed with a transition layup to cut the deficit to four. After back-to-back free throws from Gerda Raulušaitytė, redshirt freshman Laura Williams tied the game at 26–26 with a layup. Moments later, junior Malia Samuels gave USC its first lead at 28–27 on a driving finish and later beat the halftime buzzer, sending the Trojans into the locker room trailing just 32–30.
Coming out of the half, the Gamecocks wasted no time reestablishing control. South Carolina opened the third quarter on a 6–0 burst and outscored USC 23–15 in the frame, powered by relentless offensive rebounding and interior scoring. USC struggled to contain the Gamecocks' pressure in transition, surrendering eight fast-break points in the quarter as the deficit swelled to 55–45 heading into the fourth.USC continued to fight in the final period as Smith knocked down two early jumpers and Iwuchukwu added a second-chance bucket, but South Carolina's depth and length ultimately closed the door. The Gamecocks pushed their lead to as many as 17 in the final minute and held USC to just seven fourth-quarter points.
The Trojans (2–1) return to action on Tuesday as USC hosts Portland for a 7 p.m. contest at the Galen Center. The game will air on B1G+.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- Two Trojans scored in double figures; Kennedy Smith (12) and Kara Dunn (10)
- JR Kennedy Smith scored a team-high and season-high 12 points (2-for-2 FT), five made field goals, four assists and had three blocks. She also recorded a team-high two steals
- SR Kara Dunn tallied 10 points and a team-high five rebounds. The guard also had an assist and a steal and played for a team-high 35 minutes
- In the second quarter, JR Malia Samuels notched six points (3-for-4) and scored a buzzer-beating jumpshot to complete the first half making the score 32-30, Gamecocks' advantage. She also recorded three rebounds, an assist and her first block of the season
- R-FR Laura Williams tallied a career-high four rebounds. She also scored three points and had a block
- SO Vivian Iwuchukwu recorded a season-high three made field goals, matching her career-high. The forward also a season-high two assists and block.
QUOTES:
Lindsay Gottlieb | USC Head Coach
On how the team is still growing and developing:
"I think it's easier to figure out how to get really good when we're challenged. We learned a lot of things about ourselves against NC State. I think we'll learn, hopefully, equally, if not more, tonight, about what we can be really good at. And what we need to get a lot better at, but it is a process we have. We have [kind of] everyone doing something new."
On the Real SC Game Event and match up:
"A great atmosphere, games we want to be a part of. We want these games to teach us where we need to be and where we need to get to. Credit South Carolina, they did a lot of things well... I saw things from our team I really liked. Not yet where we need to be but this game will help us get there."
Kara Dunn | SR. | GUARD
On her experience playing for USC so far:
"I value being the person my team needs me to be. Coach Lindsay's mindset, the way she thinks about certain things, putting players in certain spots, she knows our strengths. It will only go up from here."
Kennedy Smith | SO. | GUARD
On her role this season:
"I feel like my role is very much different this year. Obviously, last year we had a whole bunch of vets. So, this year, I think I came in as a vet myself, still being a rookie. So… [using] my voice in practice is something that has been challenging for me. Last year, I didn't have to talk as much because we had [Rayah Marshall] and Kiki [Iriafen] and now I have to talk a lot in practice and step up my offense game consistently with defense. So, trying to be better for my team is something that I'm going to be more consistent with."
