Friday, November 10
Los Angeles, CA
4:00 PM
USC
vs
Montana State
Players Mentioned
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Guard
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Guard
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Forward
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Forward
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Guard
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/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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Forward
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/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
USC Women Start 2017-18 Campaign Friday At Galen Center
November 06, 2017 | Women's Basketball, Features
Women of Troy play a doubleheader with the USC men, hosting Montana State at 4 p.m.
USC (0-0) vs. Montana State (0-0)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Nov. 10 | 4 p.m. PT
Series Record:Â USC leads 1-0
Last Meeting: W, 82-61 (Dec. 10, 2008 • Galen Center)
Current Streak:Â USC won 1
Stream:Â pac-12.com/live/usc (Carey Noakes & Rahshaun Haylock)
Promo: "Stay Gold" t-shirt for 1st 500 fans  | Flatscreen Friday
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Nov. 10 | 4 p.m. PT
Series Record:Â USC leads 1-0
Last Meeting: W, 82-61 (Dec. 10, 2008 • Galen Center)
Current Streak:Â USC won 1
Stream:Â pac-12.com/live/usc (Carey Noakes & Rahshaun Haylock)
Promo: "Stay Gold" t-shirt for 1st 500 fans  | Flatscreen Friday
THIS WEEKÂ
USC officially kicks off the 2017-18 campaign this week, starting off the season on the Trojans' home court at Galen Center with a doubleheader home openers with the USC men. The women will take the court first, hosting Montana State at 4 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 10). The men will take on Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m.Â
CLEAR BAGS, PLEASE!
To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite guest entry into the venue, the Galen Center will be implementing a "clear bag policy" that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the arena for all events (one clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" per person) starting January 1st, 2018. The policy does not affect other items that fans normally bring to a game, which still can be carried in their pockets or openly in their arms. Also, for increased security, all guests entering the Galen Center walk through metal detector screening with arms raised (guests should remove metal items from pockets).
IN THE NATION
USC is unranked in the national preseason polls.Â
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE
The Bobcats went 25-7 last season, winning the Big Sky Tournament to earn a spot in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. MSU fell to Washington 91-63 in teh NCAA First Round. Montana State graduated its top two scorers from that team, making senior guard Hannah Caudill the top returning producer for the Bobcats, having averaged 9.7 points per game while leading the team with 4.4 assists per game last season. MSU's top returning rebounder is  sophomore forward Blaire Braxton, who averaged 6.8 rebounds per game last year. This will be the second meeting between USC and Montana State in program history. The Trojans beat the Bobcats at Galen Center in the 2008-09 season, 82-61.
INJURY REPORTÂ
Freshman Shalexxus Aaron is currently sidelined as she rehabs back from offseason knee surgery.
STAY GOLD
These two simple words are being used to define a new culture shift and a hopeful rebirth of the storied USC women's basketball program under the direction of newly-minted Trojan head coach Mark Trakh. "With this team, it's all about the culture," Trakh said. "We want the golden standard of cultures here at USC and to get our kids to be on the same page — to work hard, work together, play together hard offensively and defensively, be consistent with that effort, and represent the university well on and off the floor. I think that's the formula to winning and getting back in the tournament, and having that structure will go a long way for us this year and moving forward."  #StayGold
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LOOK WHO'S BACK
Mark Trakh is no stranger to the demands of being a head coach in one of the premier conferences for women's basketball. During his first tenure at USC (2004-09), he compiled a 90-64 overall record, making back-to-back NCAA appearances before a series of promising seasons that were eventually derailed by injuries to key players. Trakh also was able to compile an 8-3 record against crosstown rival UCLA while winning at least 17 games in each season as head coach. In his 22 years as a head coach — spanning Pepperdine, USC, New Mexico State and now a second stretch at USC — he has led his teams to eight NCAA appearances while building up a 393-267 career coaching record. For this 2017-18 season, Trakh has brought in associate head coach Jason Glover and assistant coaches Aarika Hughes, who played for Trakh at USC, and Blanche Alverson as his coaching staff.
SUPER SENIOR
Jordan Adams, a 6-1 guard from Irvine, Calif., was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA after a season-ending knee injury last year. Now, the captain is back to bring a veteran presence at the point guard position. Prior to her injury, the former McDonald's All-American was having her best season in a Trojan uniform, averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shooting over 55 percent from the floor in five games.Â
MORE SENIOR STRENGTH
Sadie Edwards, a 5-10 guard who earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention after playing in all 30 games and starting the final 22 games last season, returns in the backcourt. The Connecticut product finished second on the team in 3-pointers made last season (24) and averaged 9.2 ppg, often being called upon to hit big shots. Bringing additional experience and leadership in the post is All-Pac-12 Team honoree Kristen Simon, who holds 17 career double-doubles to her name. Simon led USC in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg) as a junior, starting all 27 games in which she appeared. The 6-2 Gardena, Calif. product also played the second most minutes per game last season (behind former guard Courtney Jaco) and will look to have another star-studded season as a senior starter.
HIGH POWER DOWN LOW
USC also has a quartet of young post players in sophomore forwards Asiah Jones, Ja'Tavia Tapley, Dani Milisic, and junior forward Marguerite Effa — all of whom are hoping to make 2017-18 their breakout seasons. Jones, an athletic 6-3 post from South Carolina played in 29 games as a true freshman and made some noise when she delivered eight blocks in a game against Mississippi State last season, the most by a USC player since Trojan great Lisa Leslie had eight in 1993 and the third most blocks ever recorded by a Trojan in a single game. She led USC in blocks last season with 35. Tapley, a versatile 6-3 forward out of Jacksonville, Fla., showed flashes of her potential last season after appearing in all 30 games and starting the last 15 of the year as a freshman. She set career highs with 15 points against Arizona and eight rebounds against Washington State during conference play and averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Also returning is redshirt sophomore Dani Milisic, who brings both strength and length in the post. The 6-4 Australian forward/center looms as USC's tallest player on the roster this season. Milisic made her Trojan debut last year, playing in 20 games and shooting 40 percent from the floor. Rounding out the post players is 6-3 junior Marguerite Effa, a native of Cameroon who prepped in Los Angeles and who boasts tremendous athletic ability. In addition to their defensive abilities, Trakh will look to these four to expand their offensive range and provide some support in the frontcourt for Simon.
BACK FOR MOORE
USC's 5-8 sophomore guard Minyon Moore was undoubtedly USC's spark plug off the bench last season, playing in all 30 games and leading the team in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) in addition to finishing second in scoring (11.7 ppg). The Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection shot 38 percent from 3-point range last season and also made a living at the free-throw line, shooting nearly twice as many free throws as the next player on the team. Trakh will rely on Moore to provide leadership and a big punch in the backcourt with her skills as a savvy distributor and sure scorer.
SPEEDY MAZYCK
USC returns the services of 5-9 junior guard Aliyah Mazyck, a tireless defender with burning quickness who averaged 6.6 ppg and 1.5 steals per game in 19 games last season. With her speed and threat from beyond the arc, a fully healthy Mazyck is guaranteed to cause huge problems for opponents this season.Â
THE NEW CREWÂ
The Trojans have three newcomers at the guard position, including freshmen Shalexxus Aaron and Kailey Tooke. Aaron, a 6-1 guard from Apple Valley, Calif., is the sister of current USC men's basketball player Shaqquan Aaron and was a CIF Southern Section First Team selection and CIF All-State Second Team pick as a senior in 2017. The 5-8 Tooke from Culver City, Calif., earned a walk-on spot on the roster after playing four years as a starter for Culver City HS and leading her team to four-straight Ocean League titles. The biggest headline, however, is the addition of an All-American caliber guard in Mariya Moore. Mariya, the older sister of Minyon, transferred to USC following three successful years at Louisville where she was a three-time selection to the Naismith Trophy Watch List and an All-ACC Second Team performer as a junior for the Cardinal after averaging 12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 4.9 apg and helping Louisville to the Sweet Sixteen. A jack of all trades, the 6-0 Moore finished in the top-10 at Louisville in career assists, 3-pointers made, and free throws made, and No. 13 all-time in career points (1,365), while registering five career double-doubles and one triple double (11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists vs. Syracuse). Moore will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have one year of eligibility at Troy.
LAST SEASON
USC finished up the 2016-17 season with a 14-16 overall record in head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's fourth season at Troy. In Pac-12 play, USC finished tied for ninth place at 5-12 and fell in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament to eight-seeded Cal.  At the close of the season, junior Kristen Simon picked up a place on the All-Pac-12 Team, while senior Courtney Jaco earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention. Freshman Minyon Moore, who was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and USBWA National Freshman of the Week during the season, was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. Simon was USC's top scorer and rebounder with 14.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Moore led the team in assists (4.0 per game) and steals (1.9 per game). Jaco moved up to rank No. 2 all-time at USC in career 3-pointers as she added a team-high 68 threes to her career count in her final season at Troy.
Women's Basketball Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Media Availability 9/18/25
Thursday, September 18
USC WBB's Lindsay Gottlieb, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen | Trojan Press Conference
Monday, March 31
USC WBB heads to the Elite 8, defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16 | Rapid Reaction
Saturday, March 29
Kennedy Smith on USC WBB heading to the Elite Eight, Trojan freshmen getting the job done
Saturday, March 29
