Friday, February 16
Eugene, OR
6:00 PM
USC
at
Oregon
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Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women Off To Oregon To Take On Two More Ranked Opponents
February 13, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Features
Women of Troy aim to add to their upset win count in Pac-12 play with a road trip to No. 9/10 Oregon and #15/14 OSU.
USC (17-8, 7-7) at #9/10 Oregon (23-4, 12-2)
Matthew Knight Arena | Eugene, Ore.
Friday, Feb. 16 | 6 p.m. PT
Series Record: USC leads 45-22
Home: 25-9 | Away: 19-13
Last Meeting: L, 70-66 (Jan. 5, 2018 • Galen Center)
Current Streak: Oregon won 4
TV: Pac-12Nat/LA/OR (PbB: Ann Schatz; Analyst: Layshia Clarendon)
USC (17-8, 7-7) at #15/14 Oregon St. (19-6, 10-4)
Gill Coliseum | Corvallis, Ore.
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 1 p.m. PT
Series Record: USC leads 43-26
Home: 25-9 | Away: 16-15
Last Meeting: W, 65-61 (Jan. 7, 2018 • Galen Center)
Current Streak: USC won 2
TV: Pac-12Nat/LA/ORÂ Â (PbB: Anne Marie Anderson; Analyst: Elise Woodward)
THIS WEEKÂ
USC packs up for its final regular-season road trip of the year, bound for Oregon looking to pick up a couple more upsets of ranked opponents. The Trojans (17-8, 7-7 Pac-12) played the Ducks tight last month and will be aiming to upend No. 9/10 Oregon (23-4, 12-2) in Eugene in a 6 p.m. televised match on Friday (Feb. 16). From there, USC heads to Corvallis hoping to notch a third straight upset of No. 15/14 Oregon State (19-6, 10-4) in another televised clash starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 18).Â
IN THE NATION USC is receiving votes in this week's AP poll and is unranked in the USA Today Coaches poll (as of Feb. 13). Oregon ranks No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 10 in the USA Today poll this week. Oregon State ranks No. 15 in the AP poll and No. 14 according to USA Today.Â
SCOUTING OREGON
The No. 9/10 Ducks are 23-4 overall and 12-2 in Pac-12 play after beating Washington 76-63 and WSU 90-79 last week. Sabrina Ionescu is Oregon's top scorer with 19.4 points per game, and Ruthy Hebard leads on the boards with 8.5 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to 1980, USC is 45-22 all-time against Oregon after taking losses in the last four meetings. Last month, Oregon beat USC 70-66 at Galen Center. Last season, the Trojans lost to the Ducks 59-53 at Galen Center and 73-50 in Eugene. USC's last win over Oregon was a 74-67 win at Galen Center in the 2015-16 season.
SCOUTING OSU
The No. 15/14 Beavers enter the week 19-6 overall and 10-4 in Pac-12 play after beating WSU in overtime 63-61 and Washington 95-57 last week. Marie Gulich leads OSU with 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. USC is 43-26 all-time against OSU after upsetting the Beavers 65-61 last month at Galen Center. Last season, the teams split as OSU beat USC 74-60 at Galen Center before USC snapped a seven-game losing skid against OSU with a 70-50 upset on in Corvallis.
LAST SERIES
USC snagged back-to-back wins at Galen Center last week, upsetting No. 25 Arizona State 77-62 and then topping Arizona 78-52 for a lift in the Pac-12 race. Against the Sun Devils, USC recovered from a first-quarter deficit to take the lead in the second and press on to a key upset win. Four Trojans hit double figures, including a second straight double-double from Minyon Moore and a powerful inside-outside presence from Aliyah Mazyck (24 points) and Kristen Simon (22 points) to improve USC's overall record to 16-8 and 6-7 in Pac-12 play. USC had to dig out of an eight-point hole in the first frame, building out a 10-point advantage during the second quarter once shots started falling for the Trojans. Up 30-25 at halftime, USC shot 41.4 percent in the first half. That was behind ASU's 42.9 percent, but USC had help from a pair of first-half 3-pointers landed by Mazyck, opening up an inside-outside game for the Trojans. Simon had served up 12 points in the first half to lead all scorers and help anchor that Trojan move into the lead. ASU would threaten on a few occasions, but USC had an answer every time. By the final buzzer, USC gripped its largest lead of the game, having shot 50.9 percent from the floor thanks to a 9-of-18 outing from 3-point range. ASU wasn't far behind overall, going 49.1 percent from the floor, but committed 16 turnovers. ASU outrebounded USC 33-23. USC's offensive output was well-balanced. With Mazyck and Sadie Edwards striking from long range — hitting a combined seven 3-pointers — Simon was free to run the paint. She'd finish with 22 points, just behind Mazyck's game-high 24. Edwards finished up with 11 points, while Moore delivered her second straight double-double in hitting 11 points and adding 10 assists. Two days later, USC finished off a sweep of the Arizona schools with a powerful 78-52 win over visiting Arizona. For just the second time this season, USC had five Trojans score in double digits and five land 3-pointers as the hosts put together a total team effort to lock in their 17th win of the season. Behind a 15-point first half from Edwards, who had a 4-for-4 start from 3-point land, USC shot 54.8 percent from the floor in the first half of action to outpace Arizona's 30.8 percent. The Trojans landed seven threes in those first 20 minutes, including a pair from senior Jordan Adams. That gave the captain 10 points by the break to mark her third double-digit game of the year. USC's shooting output slipped a bit in the second half, but the Trojans still overmatched the Wildcats, finishing at a 49.1 percent clip while Arizona shot 33.9 in the game. USC also won out on the boards 41-26 thanks in large part to a career-high 10 rebounds from sophomore Ja'Tavia Tapley. USC would wrap the game with five Trojans scoring in double figures, led by Edwards' 23 points. Moore neared a triple-double in finishing with 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Trojan cause. Simon added 13 points, and Adams and Mazyck had 10 each.
ROAD WARRIORS
Already with more wins this season than posted in 2016-17, USC has gone 12-3 in road and neutral games this season, picking up two Pac-12 road sweeps during the month of January. The Trojans first swept the mountain schools, beating Colorado 86-51 and Utah 58-47 that weekend. That was USC's first conference road sweep since the 2014-15 season. Two weeks later, USC notched its second victorious Pac-12 road trip with wins at WSU (73-72) and Washington (72-61). That was the Trojans' first road sweep of the Washington schools since 2011-12. USC last had two Pac-12 road sweeps in 2012-13 (Oregon/OSU and Arizona/ASU). With one more conference road trip ahead, the Trojans have a chance to match a three-sweep season last hit in 2009-10.
BEATING THE BEAVERS
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
Freshman Shalexxus Aaron is currently sidelined as she rehabs back from offseason knee surgery. Asiah Jones has also missed USC's first 22 games with injury. Both players have not yet been medically cleared for competition.
MOORE MATCHES MILLER
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'I
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 16-8 record so far this season, career record now stands at 410-274 (.599) in his 23rd season of coaching. Now with 1,346 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 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. "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 GREATNESS
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 WBCA released their selections on Nov. 10. The award — named for Trojan great Lisa Leslie, who was a three-time All-American 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 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Entering this week, she ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in scoring and fifth on the boards this season. The versatile Simon has collected 26 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 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. 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 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 5.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg along with 2.7 apg.
MORE SENIOR STRENGTH
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 13.6 points per game and has nailed 39 threes this season to date.Â
BACK FOR MOORE
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 is third on the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game to go with a team-high 5.7 assists per game. She also entered the week No. 2 in the Pac-12 in steals with 3.0 per game. Moore recorded her first career double-double on Feb. 5 vs. UCLA with 11 points and 11 assists, then made it back-to-back big efforts with 11 points and 10 assists the very next game vs. ASU.
SPEEDY MAZYCK
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 16.3 points per game and entered the week ranked No. 3 in the Pac-12 in steals with 2.4 per game. She's also landed a team-high 77 threes this season — second most by a Trojan in a single season and eight away from the season record. That gives her a grand total of 117 in her career to rank No. 9 all-time in 3-pointers made at USC — just one make shy of the No. 8 all-time mark.
HIGH POWER DOWN LOW
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
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
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.
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
