Tuesday night at the Galen Center, a light crowd cheered the defense wildly. Every time the Trojans fended off a bouncing ball, every time they chased down a loose ball, every time the team quickly went on offense after one of its 18 defensive rebounds, the arena DJ asked the fans to keep up the hustle.
“PROTECTION! PROTECTION!”
With St. Mary's (5-4) turning the ball over 29 times, USC (6-2) capitalized on every opportunity and pulled out a convincing 79-33 win over the Gaels. The Trojans spread out on both sides of the court. They held the visiting team to single digits in the final three quarters of the game and led by 46 points, never relinquishing the lead.
Senior Londynn Jones led the Trojans with 17 points, shooting 4 of 5 from the free throw line.
“We made them look rougher than they really are,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “They’re a really good team that played really tough against some of the other Power Four teams and challenged us to be better this week, which we did.”
The Gaels didn't stand a chance against the Trojans. After finishing the first quarter with a four-point lead, USC's defense exploded, throwing six interceptions, forcing nine turnovers and holding St. Mary's to four points in the second quarter. St. Mary's shot 27% from the field and went 2-for-13 from the 3-point line.
Three USC players scored in double figures while contributing on defense. Earning her second Ten Freshman of the Week honor of the season, Jazzy Davidson had 14 points, three blocks, six assists and four rebounds. Senior Kara Dunn scored 15 points with five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Jones, who came off the bench to lead the team in scoring, added four interceptions.
The Trojans earned 13 quick break points by quickly moving the ball around the court after defensive stops. They shot 46% from the field and 76% from the free throw line.
“We're making sure that our execution is really good and that we're putting our best effort into every game and making sure that we're getting better in the box,” Dunn said. “We’re trying to get better at moving the ball.”
The Trojans didn't take the game easy, with the bench scoring 33 points and scoring 24 points in two separate quarters. USC looks to continue its strong play when it hosts No. 5 Washington on Sunday.
“I think we’ve really made a concerted effort to work and get better,” she said. “It’s not just about getting better at jumping or playing, it’s about mentally asking, ‘Do we need to talk more?’”
USC's connection was strong throughout Tuesday's game. St. Mary's players felt pressure from the two Trojans every time they touched the ball. If the shot was missed, USC took care of the rebound.
“It’s a huge burst of energy,” Dunn said of the dominant performance. “I feel like it brings us together, connects us.”
