University Southern California Trojans
Sunday, January 25
Ann Arbor, Mich.
11:00 AM
USC
11-9,3-6Big Ten
67
at
73
Michigan
17-3,8-1Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Southern California
11
16
31
9
67
Michigan
23
17
13
20
73
Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics
USC Women's Basketball Drops Close Game Against No. 7 Michigan
January 25, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Trojans fall 73-67 to Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - USC put together a dramatic comeback effort, but No. 7 Michigan held on late to hand the Trojans a 73–67 loss in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup on Sunday afternoon.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
The Trojans won the opening tip, but struggled early. Freshman Jazzy Davidson knocked down a three to open the scoring for USC. From there, Michigan seized control, ripping off a 9–0 run before junior Dayana Mendes halted the surge with a driving layup. USC struggled to find offensive rhythm in the opening frame and trailed 23–11 after one.
Michigan maintained its advantage in the second quarter, but senior Kara Dunn sparked USC with a three-pointer early in the period and later completed a three-point play to cut into the deficit. Dunn paced the Trojans in the first half with 10 points and four rebounds, yet USC went into the break down 40–27.
The Trojans flipped the game on its head coming out of halftime. Sophomore Kennedy Smith opened the second-half scoring with a driving layup, and Davidson followed with a three-point play as USC began to chip away. A 12–1 run midway through the third quarter trimmed Michigan's lead to five, and USC locked in defensively, holding the Wolverines scoreless from the field for nearly five minutes. The Trojans surged ahead 50–48 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter and capped the period with a dominant 15–2 run. USC poured in 31 points on 73.3 percent shooting in the third, marking its highest-scoring quarter of the season, to take a 58–53 lead.
Michigan responded in the fourth, regaining momentum as USC's offense cooled. Junior Malia Samuels scored the Trojans' first points of the quarter on a driving layup, but the Wolverines gradually pulled back in front. Senior Londynn Jones converted a buzzer-beating layup to bring USC within six, yet Michigan closed out the game from the free-throw line to secure the 73–67 win.
USC now returns home to host No. 10 Iowa on Thursday evening, followed by Rutgers on Sunday, Feb. 1.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
The Trojans won the opening tip, but struggled early. Freshman Jazzy Davidson knocked down a three to open the scoring for USC. From there, Michigan seized control, ripping off a 9–0 run before junior Dayana Mendes halted the surge with a driving layup. USC struggled to find offensive rhythm in the opening frame and trailed 23–11 after one.
Michigan maintained its advantage in the second quarter, but senior Kara Dunn sparked USC with a three-pointer early in the period and later completed a three-point play to cut into the deficit. Dunn paced the Trojans in the first half with 10 points and four rebounds, yet USC went into the break down 40–27.
The Trojans flipped the game on its head coming out of halftime. Sophomore Kennedy Smith opened the second-half scoring with a driving layup, and Davidson followed with a three-point play as USC began to chip away. A 12–1 run midway through the third quarter trimmed Michigan's lead to five, and USC locked in defensively, holding the Wolverines scoreless from the field for nearly five minutes. The Trojans surged ahead 50–48 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter and capped the period with a dominant 15–2 run. USC poured in 31 points on 73.3 percent shooting in the third, marking its highest-scoring quarter of the season, to take a 58–53 lead.
Michigan responded in the fourth, regaining momentum as USC's offense cooled. Junior Malia Samuels scored the Trojans' first points of the quarter on a driving layup, but the Wolverines gradually pulled back in front. Senior Londynn Jones converted a buzzer-beating layup to bring USC within six, yet Michigan closed out the game from the free-throw line to secure the 73–67 win.
USC now returns home to host No. 10 Iowa on Thursday evening, followed by Rutgers on Sunday, Feb. 1.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- Today's game marked FR Jazzy Davidson's 17th consecutive game scoring in double figures with 11 points. She also led with a career and team-high seven assists
- With 26 points (9-for-15 FG, 3-for-7 3PT, 5-for-5 FT), SR Kara Dunn tallied her 10th consecutive game scoring in double figures and sixth consecutive game with +20 points. The guard also recorded a season-high 10 rebounds, tallying her fourth career double double and first of this season
- SO Kennedy Smith contributed five points, four assists and a team-high three steals
- The Trojans' 31 points in the third quarter were their most points scored in any quarter this season
- USC led Michigan in bench points 19-6
- Trojans who checked into the game scored at least two points each
- With the loss, USC is now 3-2 all-time against Michigan
Team Stats
USC
Mich
FG%
.429
.484
3FG%
.304
.231
FT%
.750
.625
RB
32
34
TO
21
12
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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