USC
13-6, 5-3
Arizona
13-6, 4-4
USC Women Haul In 81-72 Win Over Arizona
January 27, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2011
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The USC women's basketball team had two players come up a rebound away from double-doubles on the night, but the Trojans' all-around effort was more than enough to take USC past Arizona for an 81-72 win. The victory holds the Women of Troy undefeated on their home court at the Galen Center and improves USC's overall record to 13-6 with a 5-3 mark in Pac-10 play. Arizona goes to 13-5, 4-4.
With nine rebounds apiece, USC's Briana Gilbreath and Christina Marinacci combined for 37 points on the night - with Marinacci hitting a career-high 17 to go with Gilbreath's team-high 20. Cassie Harberts was a power on all spots on the floor for the Trojans as well, netting 14 points to stand as USC's third player in double figures. Arizona got four players in double digits, with Ify Ibekwe gathering in that tricky 10th rebound for a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. Soana Lucet also had 16 points, with Davellyn Whyte leading with 20 and Shanita Arnold holding 10 for the Wildcats.
It wasn't a powerful performance from the perimeter that got the Trojans ahead of the Wildcats, but rather some tough play in the paint and a 42-28 rebounding advantage. USC also finished out the game shooting 49 percent from the floor to 39 percent by Arizona. The Wildcats would close the gap to six on back-to-back 3-pointers with 3:20 to go, but USC kept plugging away as five different Trojans provided points in the final stretch to help lock in the win.
After trailing by five early in the game, USC staged an 8-0 run to get ahead and would enjoy a first-half lead as large as 31-20as the Trojans spread their scoring among seven players. Arizona managed a buzzer-beating bank three to close the half as a 31-23 USC advantage.
Cassie Harberts scored eight of USC's first 10 points of the second half as the freshman shrugged off limited first-half minutes due to two early fouls to help the Trojans. Gilbreath continued to pour in points for the Women of Troy as the scoring pace picked up markedly in the second half. In the final five minutes, Gilbreath got USC ahead 69-59 just before Shanita Arnold buried back-to-back threes for the Wildcats to pose a threat. The Trojans responded with a Len'Nique Brown bucket, a stuff from Gilbreath and a pair of free throws from Marinacci to build that lead right back up to 10, and USC was in the driver's seat on the way to its eighth straight win at the Galen Center.
The Trojans now turn to face Arizona State in an effort to keep that home momentum rolling. USC will host the Sun Devils in a 2:30 p.m. clash on Saturday (Jan. 29) in a game to be televised by FSN.
