USC Women's Basketball Primed for Final Road Test of the Season Against Penn State

Wednesday, February 25

University Park, Pa.

3:00 p.m.

USC

Penn State

Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics

USC Women's Basketball Primed for Final Road Test of the Season Against Penn State

February 24, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes

Trojans face Nittany Lions on Wednesday evening in State College.

LOS ANGELES - USC women's basketball wraps up Big Ten road play this week as the Trojans travel to State College, Pa. to take on Penn State on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Big Ten Plus.

USC and Penn State have not faced off in Happy Valley since the first meeting in 1980, also the only win the Lady Lions own in the series.

SERIES RECORD: 5-1
LAST MEETING: W, 95-73 (January 12, 2025) - Galen Center - Los Angeles, Calif.
HEAD COACH: Carolyn Kieger (83-122, seventh season at Penn State)
CONFERENCE: Big Ten Conference
STREAK: 5-0
TV/STREAM: Big Ten Plus
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App

A WIN WOULD

Be the 894th win in program history (893-576)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 111th win at USC (110-46)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 346th win as a head coach (345-174)
Help USC improve to 10-7 in conference play

SCOUTING PENN STATE

Penn State earned its second consecutive win on Saturday, Feb. 21 with an 87-78 victory over Rutgers in Jersey Mikes Arena. The Lady Lions improved to 10-17, 3-13 Big Ten.
Merkle ranks first in the nation in field goal percentage (73.3) and 26th in field goals (200). She is also fifth in the conference points per game (19.3).
McMiller ranks fifth in the nation in field goals (243) and first in field goal attempts (539), ranking second and first across the B1G consecutively in those categories. She sits fourth in the conference in points per game (21.6).
Murray is third in the Big Ten in three pointers per game (2.59) and in three pointers (70).

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

As a squad, USC is 5th nationally & leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (6.1) (166 total)
USC lead the Big Ten in three point percentage defense (27.2 %)
Freshman Jazzy Davidson is the only Division I player currently leading their team in points per game (18.0), rebounds per game (6.2), assists per game (4.4), blocks per game (2.2), steals per game (2.0).
Davidson has recorded 26 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 24 straight games since Nov. 18. Davidson also has 12 20+ point performances this season (one 30+ performance).
Davidson is 15th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.19). She is also 17th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks (59).
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten & 14th nationally in field goal attempts (452). She is also 2nd amongst all D1 freshman in field goal attempts (452).
Through the last seven games, Davidson is averaging 23.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.6 spg and 1.4 bpg.
Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 135 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 27 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.5 percent from the charity stripe
R-FR Laura Williams has been on a heater lately, averaging 4.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 1.4 bpg through the last seven. Williams has started the last five games for the Trojans.

LAST TIME OUT

USC recently fell 88-83 to No. 10 Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 22
USC shot a season best 53.7 percent from the field against Ohio State
Jazzy Davidson scored a team- and career-high 32 points (6-for-9 3PT, 4-for-6 FT), extending her double-figure streak to 24 games. She has posted 20+ points in five straight and 12 times this season. Her 32 points are the most by a Trojan this year and the first 30-point game for USC since Kiki Iriafen vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball (March 24, 2025). She is also the first USC freshman to score 30+ since JuJu Watkins vs. the UCLA Bruins women's basketball(March 8, 2024). Davidson added a career-high six made threes and matched her career best with 11 field goals.
Davidson also made a career-high six three-pointers
Dayana Mendes recorded a season-high 13 points and four field goals with a game-best +17 rating. She matched her career and season highs with three made threes, marking her first double-figure game of the season.
Kennedy Smith finished with 18 points (6-for-9 FG, 2-for-3 3PT, 4-for-4 FT), three rebounds, four assists and a game-high three blocks
Gerda Raulušaityte made two field goals, her most since Dec. 27, 2025 vs. Washington
USC led in bench points (21-5), blocks (6-0) and three-pointers made (11-5)
Ohio State's 53 second-half points were the most USC has allowed in a half this season
The tightly contested game featured 14 lead changes and six ties

ALL THAT JAZZ

ESPN named Davidson No. 1 in the Dec. 18 women's college basketball freshman impact rankings (Davidson was also No. 1 preseason)
Freshman Jazzy Davidson is the only Division I player currently leading their team in points per game (18.0), rebounds per game (6.2), assists per game (4.4), blocks per game (2.2), steals per game (2.0).
Davidson has recorded 26 double-figuring scoring games this season, including 24 straight games since Nov. 18. Davidson also has 12 20+ point performances this season (one 30+ performance).
Davidson is 15th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.19). She is also 17th nationally & second in the Big Ten in blocks (59).
Davidson is 3rd in the Big Ten & 14th nationally in field goal attempts (452). She is also 2nd amongst all D1 freshman in field goal attempts (452).
Through the last seven games, Davidson is averaging 23.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.6 spg and 1.4 bpg.
The newcomer put up 14 points (second leading scorer), had five rebounds, four assists, 1 steal and 1 block in her collegiate debut
Against NC State, Davidson put up 21 points, had five blocks, four assists, three steals and was perfect from the free throw line (2-2). Davidson delivered the winning basket in USC's victory over NC State as the freshman made a fast break driving layup with 8 seconds remaining in the game.
Davidson posted a breakthrough performance versus Tennessee Tech, recording her first double-double as she finished with 20 points (9-of-14 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 boards not only led all players but also marked the most by a USC freshman since Rayah Marshall's performance against Texas Southern on Dec. 18, 2021. Davidson also chipped in four assists and two blocks to round out the effort.
Against No. 21 Washington, Davidson notched her second career double-double with a game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
Against Cal, Davidson scored a then-career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.
At No. 20 Nebraska, Davidson scored 17 points and contributed five blocks, eight rebounds, three assists and 1 steal.
Davidson recorded her third double-double against Oregon, putting up 14 points, 13 rebounds (11 defensive), five assists, two blocks and two steals.
Against No. 8 Iowa on Jan. 29, the freshman delivered a complete performance with 21 points and eight assists, accounting for 40 total points. Davidson also added four rebounds, two steals and one block in USC's statement win at the Galen Center.
Against Illinois, Jazzy Davidson recorded a then-career-high 27 points, also contributing eight rebounds and eight assists against the Illini. With eight assits, Davidson contributed an additional 20 points, accounting for 47 against Illinois.
Davidson's strongest performance of the season came on the one of the biggest stage's, with the freshman recording 32 points against No. 10 Ohio State. She scored a team- and career-high 32 points (6-for-9 3PT, 4-for-6 FT), extending her double-figure streak to 24 games. She has posted 20+ points in five straight and 12 times this season. Her 32 points are the most by a Trojan this year and the first 30-point game for USC since Kiki Iriafen vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball (March 24, 2025). She is also the first USC freshman to score 30+ since JuJu Watkins vs. the UCLA Bruins women's basketball(March 8, 2024). Davidson added a career-high six made threes and matched her career best with 11 field goals.

KENNEDY SMITH STEPS UP

Sophomore Kennedy Smith is second on the squad in steals per game (1.9)
Sophomore Kennedy Smith has stepped up for the Trojans this season under pressure, scoring in double figures against No. 21 Washington (13), No. 2 UConn (16), No. 20 Nebraska (17), No. 13 Michigan State (15), No. 8 Iowa (12) and No. 10 Ohio State (18).
Smith posted a then-season best 17 points against No. 20 Nebraska, also contributing nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal
Due to injury, Smith missed USC's games against Oregon, Minnesota and No. 12 Maryland
SO Kennedy Smith posted the second double-double of her career and first of the season with 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds against Northwestern. Smith also added five assists.
SO Kennedy Smith scored a season and career high 20 points against the Illini. The sophomore also posted a career-best six blocks and added seven rebounds. The six blocks were a season high for the Trojans.
Against Ohio State, Smith finished with 18 points (6-for-9 FG, 2-for-3 3PT, 4-for-4 FT), three rebounds, four assists and a game-high three blocks

KARA GETS IT DUNN

Senior Kara Dunn recorded seven-straight 20+ point performances this spring, spanning from 1/06/26 to 1/29/26.
With her 25 point performance against No. 8 Iowa, senior Kara Dunn officially surpassed 1,500 career points, sitting at 1,523 total
Dunn has posted 18+ points in nine of the last 11 games, including a season best 29 points against Purdue.
The senior is averaging 20 ppg in conference play and 6.1 rpg
Against No. 24 Notre Dame, Dunn led USC in scoring with 21 points
The senior has led USC in scoring three times and rebounding three times this season
Against Oregon, Dunn tied her season best 21 points to lead USC in scoring. The senior also had nine rebounds and four assists. She was also perfect from the charity stripe, shooting 5-5 from the line
At Minnesota, Dunn dropped 27 points, making five three-pointers and contributing six steals and three assists
Against No. 13 Michigan State, Dunn recorded 23 points, six rebounds and three steals
Against No. 7 Michigan, Dunn had her first double-double of the season, posting 26 points, ten rebounds, three assists and two fouls.

KEEPING UP WITH JONES

Appearing in her first ever game as a Trojan, UCLA transfer Londynn Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points off the bench. The senior came off the bench for 18 minutes and had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. She was also 4-4 from the charity stripe.
Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a career high 28 points, while also contributing 2 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes played.
The senior got her first start as a Trojan against Pepperdine on Nov. 28, recording six points, five assists and one rebound. Against Saint Mary's, Jones put up a team-high 17 points.
Senior Londynn Jones has appeared in 135 consecutive collegiate games (108 at UCLA, 27 at USC)
Jones has been clutch at the free throw line, shooting a team-leading 85.5 percent from the charity stripe