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Photo by: Trevor Sochocki
USC Women Line Up For Back-to-Back Battles With Rival UCLA
January 30, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Features
Women of Troy visit the Bruins in Westwood on Friday night, then host the crosstown rivalry Monday night at Galen Center.
USC (15-6, 5-5) at #9 UCLA (17-4, 8-2)
Pauley Pavilion | Westwood, Calif.
Friday, Feb. 2 | 8 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12LA (PbB: Anne Marie Anderson; Analyst: Ros Gold-Onwude)
STREAM |Â STATS | TICKETS
USC (15-6, 5-5) vs. #9 UCLA (17-4, 8-2)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Monday, Feb. 5 | 6 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12LA (PbB: Anne Marie Anderson; Analyst: Maylana Martin Douglas)
STREAM |Â STATS | TICKETS
THIS WEEKÂ
It's rivalry week in Los Angeles, and the USC women are scheduled for back-to-back clashes against crosstown rival UCLA. This Friday (Feb. 2), the Trojans (15-6, 5-5 Pac-12) head to Westwood to take on the No. 9 Bruins at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion. That game will be televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Anne Marie Anderson and Ros Gold-Onwude on the call. On Monday (Feb. 5), the teams will get into it at Galen Center in a 6 p.m. tilt that will also be broadcast on Pac-12 Los Angeles, with Anderson and Maylana Martin Douglas on that call. Monday's game also marks USC's Play4Kay game, where fans are encouraged to wear pink to raise breast cancer awareness. Go to https://goo.gl/Pz442C to purchase a ticket package that includes a pink USC shirt and concessions voucher!
IN THE NATION
USC is unranked in this week's AP poll and USA Today Coaches poll (as of Jan. 30). UCLA ranks No. 9 in the AP poll and in the USA Today poll this week.Â
CLEAR BAGS, PLEASE!  Â
At Galen Center, the safety of our guests is of paramount importance. With that in mind, beginning January 1, 2018, Galen Center has implemented enhanced security measures including a clear bag policy. To review the policy and to ensure you come to your next event at Galen Center fully prepared please click here. Thank you and Fight On!
SCOUTING UCLAÂ Â Â
The Bruins are 17-4 overall and 8-2 in Pac-12 play after beating Washington 86-69 and WSU 79-71 last week. Jordin Canada is UCLA's top scorer with 15.6 points per game, and Monique Billings leads on the boards with 9.6 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to 1971, USC is 48-44 all-time against UCLA after two losses to the Bruins last season. UCLA beat the Trojans 74-59 at Galen Center and 71-67 in Westwood last year. USC last win over UCLA was a 71-68 win at Galen Center on Jan. 10, 2016.Â
LAST WEEK'S SWEEPÂ Â Â Â
USC claimed its first road sweep of the Washington schools since 2011-12 and second Pac-12 road sweep of the year after a tense 73-72 win at WSU and a 72-61 win over Washington. Against the Cougars, USC trailed by as much as 10 points during the fourth quarter but kept its eyes on the finish line in a wild finish in Pullman as the Trojans fought back and shut down Washington State in the final seconds to secure a 73-72 road win. USC nabbed seven steals and outscored the Cougars 22-15 in the fourth, making the 12th lead change of the game count in the Trojans' favor. Kristen Simon had 14 first-half points to aid the Trojan cause, but WSU countered with eight Cougars on the scoresheet and a 52-percent shooting effort by halftime for a 36-31 lead at the break. USC was shooting 41 percent in that opening 20-minute stretch to fall behind its hosts in the final stretch of the first. WSU continued to shoot well, finishing at 50 percent from the floor, but the Cougars couldn't contend with USC's stingy defense, which made 10 steals in the second half to account for 10 WSU turnovers as the Trojans maneuvered into a late lead. With 13 final steals — led by a career-high eight from Minyon Moore — USC's offensive output improved to a final 43.1 percent effort from the floor. WSU outrebounded the Trojans 36-31, only to see USC's Kristen Simon hold court on the boards in finishing with her 24th career double-double on 13 rebounds and 24 points. Aliyah Mazyck delivered a game-high 25 points for the Trojans. Moore, too, hit double digits for USC in tallying 14 points to go with her seven assists and career-high eight steals. In a furious fourth quarter, WSU got USC in a 10-point hole with 8:50 on the clock, gripping a 61-51 lead. As the five-minute mark loomed, USC mounted a 7-0 rally to carve the deficit down to two as Mazyck and Moore combined forces. With 3:20 remaining, WSU got ahead 69-65, but USC had another surge in store. Free throws from Simon and Edwards were followed by back-to-back buckets from Mazyck and a single free-throw made by Moore for an 8-0 USC rally to lead it 73-69 with 1:00 to go. WSU landed a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game with 0:43 left, then fielded the defensive board to get a chance at the winning shot. USC's defense was interruptive, forcing the Cougars to launch a last-ditch, wild shot that missed the backboard as the buzzer sounded on a gutsy 73-72 comeback win by the Trojans. Against the Huskies, Simon delivered her second straight double-double, and Edwards led all scorers with 26 points to help keep the Trojans out ahead of the Huskies. USC was in control in the first half, manufacturing a 27-point lead and gripping a 40-19 halftime advantage. Washington would recover from a slow first quarter, however, turning a 12.5 percent shooting effort in those first 10 minutes into a final output of 45.1 percent. USC, meanwhile, would cool off from 52.9 percent in the first frame to finish up at 48.2 percent, but the damage was done with USC's strong first half effort. USC also led on the boards 39-22 and forced 21 turnovers by the Huskies, committing 18 of their own but still remaining in control. Sadie Edwards' 26 points led the Trojans, with Simon and Mazyck issuing 16 points apiece while Simon also secured 14 rebounds for her 25th career double-double and second of the week. Moore had nine points and served up six assists and nabbed six steals for the Trojans.Â
BEATING THE BEAVERSÂ Â Â
USC forced 16 second-half turnovers out of visiting No. 16 Oregon State to key a fierce comeback upset win at Galen Center on Jan. 7. Pesky USC defense helped turn the tide on what was once a 17-point deficit to net the Trojans' first win over a ranked team this season. OSU shot 50 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, dropping seven 3-pointers to turn what had been a tight one-point game into a 15-point Beaver advantage during the second quarter before USC took a small bite out of it to make it a 40-28 score at the break. The Trojans shot 45.8 percent in the first half, but OSU was hitting at a 51.6 percent clip from the floor to hold the lead. USC would fall into a 17-point hole during the third, only to stage a 12-0 rally at the end of the frame to carve the deficit down to four. A series of USC takeaways helped the Trojans get ahead, going up 60-59 with 1:34 to go, then making a push to victory on a score from Simon and two calm free throws from Moore to hold on for the 65-61 win. Oregon State would land just one 3-pointer in the second half, finishing the game at 47.1 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19). USC finished up shooting 46.9 from the floor after outscoring the Beavers 38-21 in the second half. The Trojan defense forced 27 OSU turnovers, making nine of its 13 steals during the second half to interrupt OSU's offense. By the final buzzer, USC had received a game-high 21 points from Simon along with 17 from Edwards and 14 from Mazyck, who nabbed four of those steals in the second half. Moore went 7-of-8 from the line to finish with nine points to go along with five assists.Â
INJURY REPORTÂ Â Â Â
Freshman Shalexxus Aaron is currently sidelined as she rehabs back from offseason knee surgery. Asiah Jones has also missed USC's first 21 games with injury. Both players have not yet been medically cleared for competition.
MOORE MATCHES MILLERÂ Â Â
In USC's 80-70 win at LMU on Dec. 1, Trojan sophomore Minyon Moore had a game-high 34 points on an incredible 21-of-23 shooting night from the free-throw line to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Moore's 34 points were the most scored by any USC player since Ariya Crook did so in 2014. In addition, her 21 free throws made matched the single-game program record set by Trojan great Cheryl Miller in 1985. Moore's 23 free throws attempted was also the second most in a single game all-time at USC.Â
HITTING HIGH MARKS IN HAWAI'IÂ Â Â
During USC's victorious run through the Rainbow Wahine Showdown the week of Thanksgiving, two milestones were hit by Trojans. With her fourth of a final 16 points in the Nov. 25 win over Marist, senior Kristen Simon joined the 1,000-point club at USC, becoming the 26th Trojan to break that barrier. The very next day, USC gathered a 71-60 win over host Hawai'i, notching USC head coach Mark Trakh's 400th career victory as a head coach. With USC's 15-6 record so far this season, career record now stands at 409-272 (.601) in his 23rd season of coaching. Now with 1,284 career points, Simon ranks No. 17 all-time in scoring at USC, having taken over Tammy Story's spot with her 21-point outing vs. Cal on Jan. 21.Â
STAY GOLDÂ Â Â
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. "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." #StayGold
TROJAN GREATNESSÂ Â Â
USC senior Kristen Simon has received national acclaim as one of the nation's top-20 centers named to the watch list for the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association released their selections on Nov. 10. The award — named for Trojan great Lisa Leslie, who was a three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year during her time at USC — will honor the nation's top center, to be announced at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. This 20-player watch list will narrow to 10 in mid-February before five finalists are revealed in March. Simon was named to the 2017 All-Pac-12 Team as a junior, having led the Trojans in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg). This season, she's averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, ranking her third in the Pac-12 in scoring and fourth on the boards this season to date. The versatile Simon has collected 25 double-doubles thus far in her USC career, boasting a 21-rebound performance as a sophomore to net the fourth most single-game records ever by a Trojan. That effort was just two boards away from the career-best posted by Leslie while she was a Trojan. Simon currently ranks No. 17 all-time in career scoring and No. 9 all-time in rebounds at USC.
LOOK WHO'S BACKÂ Â Â
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. 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 SENIORÂ Â Â
Jordan Adams 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. This season, she's back as a full-time starter, averaging 4.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg along with 2.8 apg.
MORE SENIOR STRENGTHÂ Â Â
Sadie Edwards, 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. After a career-high 30-point game to kick off her senior campaign, Edwards is averaging 13.9 points per game and has nailed 31 threes this season to date.Â
BACK FOR MOOREÂ Â Â
USC guard Minyon Moore was undoubtedly USC's spark plug off the bench last season as a freshman, 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. This season, she's a full-time starter and USC's fourth leading scorer with 13.9 points per game to go with a team-high 5.2 assists per game. She also entered the week No. 3 in the Pac-12 in steals with 2.8 per game.
SPEEDY MAZYCKÂ Â Â
USC returns the services of junior 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 causing huge problems for opponents this season. To date, she's USC's second leading scorer with 16.7 points per game and entered the week ranked No. 4 in the Pac-12 in steals with 2.6 per game. She's also landed a team-high 65 threes this season, giving her 105 in her career to rank No. 11 all-time in 3-pointers made at USC.
HIGH POWER DOWN LOWÂ Â Â
USC also has a quartet of young post players in sophomores Asiah Jones, Ja'Tavia Tapley, Dani Milisic and junior Marguerite Effa. Jones, an athletic 6-3 post 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, 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 WSU and averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Also returning is redshirt sophomore Milisic, who brings both strength and length in the post. The 6-4 Australian 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 Effa, a native of Cameroon who prepped in Los Angeles and who boasts tremendous athletic ability.Â
THE NEW CREWÂ Â Â Â
The Trojans have two newcomers at the guard position, true freshmen Shalexxus Aaron and transfer Mariya Moore. 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. She is working her way back from a offseason knee surgery and has yet to be cleared for competition with the Trojans. Also eagerly awaiting her USC debut is All-American guard Mariya Moore. Mariya, the older sister of current sophomore 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. Moore will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have one year of eligibility at Troy.
LAST SEASONÂ Â Â Â
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. 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. Minyon Moore, who was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and USBWA National Freshman of the Week was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. Simon was USC's top scorer and rebounder with 14.6 ppg and 8.7 rpg. Moore led the team in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). 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.
COMMITTED!   Â
USC head coach Mark Trakh announced the signings of Jillian Archer and Desiree Caldwell to national letters of intent on Nov. 8. A 6-2 forward from Santa Monica, Calif., Jillian Archer ranked as the No. 47 overall player and No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN and was No. 54 overall and as the No. 8 forward according to ProspectsNation. Archer averaged 11.4 ppg and 10.3 rpg as a junior at Bishop Alemany HS. A 5-6 point guard, Desiree "Desi" Caldwell hails from San Antonio, Texas. Ranked the No. 13 guard and the No. 74 overall player in the country according to ESPN, and as the No. 14 overall player and No. 5 guard in the land according to ProspectsNation. A member of the USA Basketball U16 National Team, she is playing her senior year of basketball at Byron P. Steele II HS, after playing one varsity season at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in San Antonio. Her older sister, Recee, started her collegiate basketball career at nearby UCLA before transferring to Texas Tech.
MOUNTAIN SWEEPÂ Â Â
USC completed its first conference road sweep since the 2014-15 season with a powerful 86-51 win at Colorado and a 58-47 victory at Utah last week. Against the Buffs, USC busted out a true team performance in Boulder, shooting over 50 percent from the floor and putting host Colorado well out of reach with a relentless second half. A career-high 29 points form Aliyah Mazyck led the way for the Trojan cause, which also had Kristen Simon secure her 23rd career double-double. USC was hitting at a 43.8-percent clip from the floor in the first half of action and got a boost from six 3-pointers nailed in the first 10 minutes. Aliyah Mazyck had four of those and would stand as the only player in double digits by halftime, as USC led it 36-29. Colorado had shot 29.6 percent from the floor in those first 20 minutes and was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. In the second half, USC cranked things up even further to top off a powerful second half that saw the Trojans shoot 73.1 percent from the floor in the last 20 minutes of action. That had USC at 50.8 percent in the game — the second time this season that USC has shot over 50 percent from the floor. Outscored 60-22 in the second half, Colorado finished up the game shooting 29.6 from the floor. USC also won out on the boards 40-34 with Simon securing 11 of those for USC. She'd finish up with her fifth double-double of the year in adding 14 points. Mazyck led the pack with her career-high 29 points, while Minyon Moore added 15 points along with eight assists and seven steals. Jordan Adams contributed 13 points while landing a season-high three 3-pointers. The Trojan defense forced 21 Colorado turnovers and scored 28 points off those picks. Two days later in Salt Lake City, USC won its third straight Pac-12 game with the 58-47 win over host Utah. The Trojan defense was interruptive once again, forcing 21 turnovers out of the Utes to counter a few cold spells on the offensive end. Utah was outshooting USC in the first half of action, but the Trojan defense had stalled out the Utes to the tune of nine first-half steals to force 13 turnovers by Utah. That helped USC hold the advantage, up 30-23 at halftime on 35.5 percent shooting from the floor. Utah was hitting at a 37.5 percent clip, but still USC had done its job to hold off the hosts through those first 20 minutes. Utah closed the gap down to three during the third, only to see USC warm up in the fourth and round out the game shooting 37.3 from the floor. Utah also shot 37.3 in the game, but USC delivered three more 3-pointers and had forced 21 turnovers out of the Utes. USC scored 19 points off those takeaways while six Trojans had at least one steal in amassing a team total of 14. USC received another game-high effort from Mazyck, who dropped four more 3-pointers and finished with 20 points for the Trojans. Back in action for this one was Sadie Edwards, who had 16 points for USC while Simon delivered double digits once again in finishing with 14 points. Moore stood out with five rebounds, assists and steals to keep the Trojans chugging along to the road sweep.Â
Â
Pauley Pavilion | Westwood, Calif.
Friday, Feb. 2 | 8 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12LA (PbB: Anne Marie Anderson; Analyst: Ros Gold-Onwude)
STREAM |Â STATS | TICKETS
USC (15-6, 5-5) vs. #9 UCLA (17-4, 8-2)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Monday, Feb. 5 | 6 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12LA (PbB: Anne Marie Anderson; Analyst: Maylana Martin Douglas)
STREAM |Â STATS | TICKETS
THIS WEEKÂ
It's rivalry week in Los Angeles, and the USC women are scheduled for back-to-back clashes against crosstown rival UCLA. This Friday (Feb. 2), the Trojans (15-6, 5-5 Pac-12) head to Westwood to take on the No. 9 Bruins at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion. That game will be televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Anne Marie Anderson and Ros Gold-Onwude on the call. On Monday (Feb. 5), the teams will get into it at Galen Center in a 6 p.m. tilt that will also be broadcast on Pac-12 Los Angeles, with Anderson and Maylana Martin Douglas on that call. Monday's game also marks USC's Play4Kay game, where fans are encouraged to wear pink to raise breast cancer awareness. Go to https://goo.gl/Pz442C to purchase a ticket package that includes a pink USC shirt and concessions voucher!
IN THE NATION
USC is unranked in this week's AP poll and USA Today Coaches poll (as of Jan. 30). UCLA ranks No. 9 in the AP poll and in the USA Today poll this week.Â
CLEAR BAGS, PLEASE!  Â
At Galen Center, the safety of our guests is of paramount importance. With that in mind, beginning January 1, 2018, Galen Center has implemented enhanced security measures including a clear bag policy. To review the policy and to ensure you come to your next event at Galen Center fully prepared please click here. Thank you and Fight On!
SCOUTING UCLAÂ Â Â
The Bruins are 17-4 overall and 8-2 in Pac-12 play after beating Washington 86-69 and WSU 79-71 last week. Jordin Canada is UCLA's top scorer with 15.6 points per game, and Monique Billings leads on the boards with 9.6 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to 1971, USC is 48-44 all-time against UCLA after two losses to the Bruins last season. UCLA beat the Trojans 74-59 at Galen Center and 71-67 in Westwood last year. USC last win over UCLA was a 71-68 win at Galen Center on Jan. 10, 2016.Â
LAST WEEK'S SWEEPÂ Â Â Â
USC claimed its first road sweep of the Washington schools since 2011-12 and second Pac-12 road sweep of the year after a tense 73-72 win at WSU and a 72-61 win over Washington. Against the Cougars, USC trailed by as much as 10 points during the fourth quarter but kept its eyes on the finish line in a wild finish in Pullman as the Trojans fought back and shut down Washington State in the final seconds to secure a 73-72 road win. USC nabbed seven steals and outscored the Cougars 22-15 in the fourth, making the 12th lead change of the game count in the Trojans' favor. Kristen Simon had 14 first-half points to aid the Trojan cause, but WSU countered with eight Cougars on the scoresheet and a 52-percent shooting effort by halftime for a 36-31 lead at the break. USC was shooting 41 percent in that opening 20-minute stretch to fall behind its hosts in the final stretch of the first. WSU continued to shoot well, finishing at 50 percent from the floor, but the Cougars couldn't contend with USC's stingy defense, which made 10 steals in the second half to account for 10 WSU turnovers as the Trojans maneuvered into a late lead. With 13 final steals — led by a career-high eight from Minyon Moore — USC's offensive output improved to a final 43.1 percent effort from the floor. WSU outrebounded the Trojans 36-31, only to see USC's Kristen Simon hold court on the boards in finishing with her 24th career double-double on 13 rebounds and 24 points. Aliyah Mazyck delivered a game-high 25 points for the Trojans. Moore, too, hit double digits for USC in tallying 14 points to go with her seven assists and career-high eight steals. In a furious fourth quarter, WSU got USC in a 10-point hole with 8:50 on the clock, gripping a 61-51 lead. As the five-minute mark loomed, USC mounted a 7-0 rally to carve the deficit down to two as Mazyck and Moore combined forces. With 3:20 remaining, WSU got ahead 69-65, but USC had another surge in store. Free throws from Simon and Edwards were followed by back-to-back buckets from Mazyck and a single free-throw made by Moore for an 8-0 USC rally to lead it 73-69 with 1:00 to go. WSU landed a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game with 0:43 left, then fielded the defensive board to get a chance at the winning shot. USC's defense was interruptive, forcing the Cougars to launch a last-ditch, wild shot that missed the backboard as the buzzer sounded on a gutsy 73-72 comeback win by the Trojans. Against the Huskies, Simon delivered her second straight double-double, and Edwards led all scorers with 26 points to help keep the Trojans out ahead of the Huskies. USC was in control in the first half, manufacturing a 27-point lead and gripping a 40-19 halftime advantage. Washington would recover from a slow first quarter, however, turning a 12.5 percent shooting effort in those first 10 minutes into a final output of 45.1 percent. USC, meanwhile, would cool off from 52.9 percent in the first frame to finish up at 48.2 percent, but the damage was done with USC's strong first half effort. USC also led on the boards 39-22 and forced 21 turnovers by the Huskies, committing 18 of their own but still remaining in control. Sadie Edwards' 26 points led the Trojans, with Simon and Mazyck issuing 16 points apiece while Simon also secured 14 rebounds for her 25th career double-double and second of the week. Moore had nine points and served up six assists and nabbed six steals for the Trojans.Â
BEATING THE BEAVERSÂ Â Â
USC forced 16 second-half turnovers out of visiting No. 16 Oregon State to key a fierce comeback upset win at Galen Center on Jan. 7. Pesky USC defense helped turn the tide on what was once a 17-point deficit to net the Trojans' first win over a ranked team this season. OSU shot 50 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, dropping seven 3-pointers to turn what had been a tight one-point game into a 15-point Beaver advantage during the second quarter before USC took a small bite out of it to make it a 40-28 score at the break. The Trojans shot 45.8 percent in the first half, but OSU was hitting at a 51.6 percent clip from the floor to hold the lead. USC would fall into a 17-point hole during the third, only to stage a 12-0 rally at the end of the frame to carve the deficit down to four. A series of USC takeaways helped the Trojans get ahead, going up 60-59 with 1:34 to go, then making a push to victory on a score from Simon and two calm free throws from Moore to hold on for the 65-61 win. Oregon State would land just one 3-pointer in the second half, finishing the game at 47.1 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19). USC finished up shooting 46.9 from the floor after outscoring the Beavers 38-21 in the second half. The Trojan defense forced 27 OSU turnovers, making nine of its 13 steals during the second half to interrupt OSU's offense. By the final buzzer, USC had received a game-high 21 points from Simon along with 17 from Edwards and 14 from Mazyck, who nabbed four of those steals in the second half. Moore went 7-of-8 from the line to finish with nine points to go along with five assists.Â
INJURY REPORTÂ Â Â Â
Freshman Shalexxus Aaron is currently sidelined as she rehabs back from offseason knee surgery. Asiah Jones has also missed USC's first 21 games with injury. Both players have not yet been medically cleared for competition.
MOORE MATCHES MILLERÂ Â Â
In USC's 80-70 win at LMU on Dec. 1, Trojan sophomore Minyon Moore had a game-high 34 points on an incredible 21-of-23 shooting night from the free-throw line to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Moore's 34 points were the most scored by any USC player since Ariya Crook did so in 2014. In addition, her 21 free throws made matched the single-game program record set by Trojan great Cheryl Miller in 1985. Moore's 23 free throws attempted was also the second most in a single game all-time at USC.Â
HITTING HIGH MARKS IN HAWAI'IÂ Â Â
During USC's victorious run through the Rainbow Wahine Showdown the week of Thanksgiving, two milestones were hit by Trojans. With her fourth of a final 16 points in the Nov. 25 win over Marist, senior Kristen Simon joined the 1,000-point club at USC, becoming the 26th Trojan to break that barrier. The very next day, USC gathered a 71-60 win over host Hawai'i, notching USC head coach Mark Trakh's 400th career victory as a head coach. With USC's 15-6 record so far this season, career record now stands at 409-272 (.601) in his 23rd season of coaching. Now with 1,284 career points, Simon ranks No. 17 all-time in scoring at USC, having taken over Tammy Story's spot with her 21-point outing vs. Cal on Jan. 21.Â
STAY GOLDÂ Â Â
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. "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." #StayGold
TROJAN GREATNESSÂ Â Â
USC senior Kristen Simon has received national acclaim as one of the nation's top-20 centers named to the watch list for the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association released their selections on Nov. 10. The award — named for Trojan great Lisa Leslie, who was a three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year during her time at USC — will honor the nation's top center, to be announced at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. This 20-player watch list will narrow to 10 in mid-February before five finalists are revealed in March. Simon was named to the 2017 All-Pac-12 Team as a junior, having led the Trojans in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg). This season, she's averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, ranking her third in the Pac-12 in scoring and fourth on the boards this season to date. The versatile Simon has collected 25 double-doubles thus far in her USC career, boasting a 21-rebound performance as a sophomore to net the fourth most single-game records ever by a Trojan. That effort was just two boards away from the career-best posted by Leslie while she was a Trojan. Simon currently ranks No. 17 all-time in career scoring and No. 9 all-time in rebounds at USC.
LOOK WHO'S BACKÂ Â Â
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. 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 SENIORÂ Â Â
Jordan Adams 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. This season, she's back as a full-time starter, averaging 4.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg along with 2.8 apg.
MORE SENIOR STRENGTHÂ Â Â
Sadie Edwards, 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. After a career-high 30-point game to kick off her senior campaign, Edwards is averaging 13.9 points per game and has nailed 31 threes this season to date.Â
BACK FOR MOOREÂ Â Â
USC guard Minyon Moore was undoubtedly USC's spark plug off the bench last season as a freshman, 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. This season, she's a full-time starter and USC's fourth leading scorer with 13.9 points per game to go with a team-high 5.2 assists per game. She also entered the week No. 3 in the Pac-12 in steals with 2.8 per game.
SPEEDY MAZYCKÂ Â Â
USC returns the services of junior 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 causing huge problems for opponents this season. To date, she's USC's second leading scorer with 16.7 points per game and entered the week ranked No. 4 in the Pac-12 in steals with 2.6 per game. She's also landed a team-high 65 threes this season, giving her 105 in her career to rank No. 11 all-time in 3-pointers made at USC.
HIGH POWER DOWN LOWÂ Â Â
USC also has a quartet of young post players in sophomores Asiah Jones, Ja'Tavia Tapley, Dani Milisic and junior Marguerite Effa. Jones, an athletic 6-3 post 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, 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 WSU and averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Also returning is redshirt sophomore Milisic, who brings both strength and length in the post. The 6-4 Australian 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 Effa, a native of Cameroon who prepped in Los Angeles and who boasts tremendous athletic ability.Â
THE NEW CREWÂ Â Â Â
The Trojans have two newcomers at the guard position, true freshmen Shalexxus Aaron and transfer Mariya Moore. 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. She is working her way back from a offseason knee surgery and has yet to be cleared for competition with the Trojans. Also eagerly awaiting her USC debut is All-American guard Mariya Moore. Mariya, the older sister of current sophomore 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. Moore will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have one year of eligibility at Troy.
LAST SEASONÂ Â Â Â
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. 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. Minyon Moore, who was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and USBWA National Freshman of the Week was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. Simon was USC's top scorer and rebounder with 14.6 ppg and 8.7 rpg. Moore led the team in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). 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.
COMMITTED!   Â
USC head coach Mark Trakh announced the signings of Jillian Archer and Desiree Caldwell to national letters of intent on Nov. 8. A 6-2 forward from Santa Monica, Calif., Jillian Archer ranked as the No. 47 overall player and No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN and was No. 54 overall and as the No. 8 forward according to ProspectsNation. Archer averaged 11.4 ppg and 10.3 rpg as a junior at Bishop Alemany HS. A 5-6 point guard, Desiree "Desi" Caldwell hails from San Antonio, Texas. Ranked the No. 13 guard and the No. 74 overall player in the country according to ESPN, and as the No. 14 overall player and No. 5 guard in the land according to ProspectsNation. A member of the USA Basketball U16 National Team, she is playing her senior year of basketball at Byron P. Steele II HS, after playing one varsity season at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in San Antonio. Her older sister, Recee, started her collegiate basketball career at nearby UCLA before transferring to Texas Tech.
MOUNTAIN SWEEPÂ Â Â
USC completed its first conference road sweep since the 2014-15 season with a powerful 86-51 win at Colorado and a 58-47 victory at Utah last week. Against the Buffs, USC busted out a true team performance in Boulder, shooting over 50 percent from the floor and putting host Colorado well out of reach with a relentless second half. A career-high 29 points form Aliyah Mazyck led the way for the Trojan cause, which also had Kristen Simon secure her 23rd career double-double. USC was hitting at a 43.8-percent clip from the floor in the first half of action and got a boost from six 3-pointers nailed in the first 10 minutes. Aliyah Mazyck had four of those and would stand as the only player in double digits by halftime, as USC led it 36-29. Colorado had shot 29.6 percent from the floor in those first 20 minutes and was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. In the second half, USC cranked things up even further to top off a powerful second half that saw the Trojans shoot 73.1 percent from the floor in the last 20 minutes of action. That had USC at 50.8 percent in the game — the second time this season that USC has shot over 50 percent from the floor. Outscored 60-22 in the second half, Colorado finished up the game shooting 29.6 from the floor. USC also won out on the boards 40-34 with Simon securing 11 of those for USC. She'd finish up with her fifth double-double of the year in adding 14 points. Mazyck led the pack with her career-high 29 points, while Minyon Moore added 15 points along with eight assists and seven steals. Jordan Adams contributed 13 points while landing a season-high three 3-pointers. The Trojan defense forced 21 Colorado turnovers and scored 28 points off those picks. Two days later in Salt Lake City, USC won its third straight Pac-12 game with the 58-47 win over host Utah. The Trojan defense was interruptive once again, forcing 21 turnovers out of the Utes to counter a few cold spells on the offensive end. Utah was outshooting USC in the first half of action, but the Trojan defense had stalled out the Utes to the tune of nine first-half steals to force 13 turnovers by Utah. That helped USC hold the advantage, up 30-23 at halftime on 35.5 percent shooting from the floor. Utah was hitting at a 37.5 percent clip, but still USC had done its job to hold off the hosts through those first 20 minutes. Utah closed the gap down to three during the third, only to see USC warm up in the fourth and round out the game shooting 37.3 from the floor. Utah also shot 37.3 in the game, but USC delivered three more 3-pointers and had forced 21 turnovers out of the Utes. USC scored 19 points off those takeaways while six Trojans had at least one steal in amassing a team total of 14. USC received another game-high effort from Mazyck, who dropped four more 3-pointers and finished with 20 points for the Trojans. Back in action for this one was Sadie Edwards, who had 16 points for USC while Simon delivered double digits once again in finishing with 14 points. Moore stood out with five rebounds, assists and steals to keep the Trojans chugging along to the road sweep.Â
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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
