Friday, January 3
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:00 PM
USC
vs
Arizona
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women Open New Year With Arizona Schools At Galen Center
December 31, 2019 | Women's Basketball, Features
Trojans host No. 18 Arizona on Friday night and face Arizona State on Sunday afternoon for Pac-12 action.
USC (8-4, 0-1) vs. #18 Arizona (12-0, 1-0)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Jan. 3 | 7 p.m. PT
Series Record: USC leads 58-24
Home: 31-10 | Away: 25-13 | Neutral: 2-1
Last Meeting: L, 76-48 (March 7, 2019 • Las Vegas)
Current Streak: USC lost 2
TV: Pac-12 Arizona | Stream: pac-12.com/now
     (PbB: Brian Webber; Analyst: Tammy Blackburn)
Stats: sidearmstats.com/usc/wbball/
Tickets: goo.gl/XBgjax
USC vs. Arizona State
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Sunday, Jan. 5 | 2 p.m. PT
Series Record: USC leads 56-25
Home: 31-9 | Away: 23-15 | Neutral: 2-0
Last Meeting: L, 68-59 (Jan. 27, 2019 • Tempe)
Current Streak: USC lost 1
TV: Pac-12 LA & Arizona | Stream: pac-12.com/now
     (PbB: Brian Webber; Analyst: Tammy Blackburn)
Stats: sidearmstats.com/usc/wbball/
Tickets: goo.gl/XBgjax
Â
Â
THIS WEEKÂ
USC is back in action at Galen Center, kicking off the New Year with a couple Pac-12 contests on home turf. The Trojans (8-4, 0-1 Pac-12) first take on No. 18 Arizona (12-0, 1-0) in a 7 p.m. faceoff on Friday (Jan. 3). Next, USC goes up against Arizona State (10-3, 0-1) at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 5).
Â
Â
IN THE NATION
USC is unranked in the latest AP and Coaches polls.Â
Â
Â
SCOUTING ARIZONA
The No. 18 Wildcats are 12-0 overall and 1-0 in Pac-12 play after beating ASU 58-53 last week. Aari McDonald leads Arizona in scoring with 19.9 points per game, and Cate Reese leads on the boards with 8.6 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to the 1977-782 season, USC is 58-24 all-time against the Wildcats. Last year, USC lost Arizona 71-68 in Tucson and then fell 76-48 in the First Round of the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.
Â
Â
SCOUTING ASU
The Sun Devils enter the week 10-3 overall and 0-1 in Pac-12 play after a 58-53 loss to Arizona last week. Ja'Tavia Tapley — a grad transfer from USC — leads ASU with 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In a series dating back to the 1977-78 season, USC is 56-25 all-time against the Sun Devils. Last year, USC lost at ASU 68-59.
Â
Â
INJURY REPORT
Shalexxus Aaron (foot) and Madison Campbell (back) have not yet competed for USC this season due to injury. Aaron is expected to return. Stephanie Watts (knee) has missed recent games, but is expected to return to action.
Â
Â
LAST ACTION
USC came up against a tough No. 10 UCLA team in the Pac-12 opener in Westwood. The Trojans were within reach in the third, but a 3-point explosion by the Bruins ballooned the deficit to double digits, and USC could not recover. The 83-59 loss puts USC at 8-4 overall with an 0-1 start to conference action. UCLA stays undefeated overall at 12-0 with the win and is 1-0 in Pac-12 play. Alissa Pili piled up 15 first-half points to keep a spark alive for the Trojans, who trailed UCLA 34-23 at halftime. USC shot 25.8 percent from the floor in the first half to UCLA's considerably warmer 43.8 percent. Pili kept coming in the second, rounding out a game-high and career-high 28 points to go along with her 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year. UCLA countered the Trojan freshman's powerful efforts with a 3-point onslaught in the second half. The Bruins landed five 3-pointers in the third to turn a single-digit game into a double-digit UCLA advantage. The Bruins wrapped the game shooting 47.1 percent from the floor with nine 3-pointers made. USC shot 33.9 percent in the game and outrebounded UCLA 40-37. Along with Pili's 28 points and 10 rebounds, USC had Aliyah Jeune add 11 points. UCLA had four players in double figures, led by 21 points from Michaela Onyenware and Japreece Dean. Charisma Osborne had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Lauryn Miller added 11 points for the Bruins.Â
Â
Â
THE "VETS"Â
Of USC's three seniors on the roster, only post Kayla Overbeck has logged minutes in Cardinal and Gold. Overbeck joined the Trojans as a transfer from Vanderbilt last season. Now, she's flanked by two other transfers — guards Stephanie Watts (from North Carolina) and Aliyah Jeune (from Morehead State) — who are playing out their remaining eligibility as Trojans. Overbeck, Shalexxus Aaron and sophomore guard Desiree Caldwell are USC's three returners from the 2018-19 season that saw the Trojans come up just shy of a postseason push with a 17-13 overall record. Â
Â
Â
THE NEW CLASS
Nine new faces are on the roster for 2019-20. In addition to grad transfers Aliyah Jeune and Stephanie Watts, USC has seven true freshmen in the mix, with two of those young guns standing out as USC's top scorers to date. Freshmen forward Alissa Pili leads USC with 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds points per game so far, while guard Endyia Rogers is just a step behind, averaging 10.9 points per game. Pili already has hauled in five double-doubles as a Trojan. Pili has fellow freshman Angel Jackson also making an impact in the paint with 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while the rest of the freshman class makes for a talented back court in guards Madison Campbell, Alyson Miura, India Otto and Kyra White.Â
Â
Â
STEPH SCORES A WATCH LIST SPOT
As she set up for her first season as a Trojan, grad transfer Stephanie Watts earned a place on the Preseason Watch List for the prestigious Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Watts is one of 20 candidates on the Preseason Watch List, as announced Oct. 22 by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Watts joins the Women of Troy this season as a grad transfer from North Carolina, where she was the 2016 ACC Freshman of the Year and later led the team in 3-pointers made as a redshirt junior last season. In her three seasons as a Tar Heel, she scored 1,320 points. In her final season, she averaged 15.2 point, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while knocking down 82 threes. Named after the first player, male or female, named to the All-America Team in four straight college seasons, the annual Ann Meyers Drysdale Award — in its third year — recognizes the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Â
Â
PREP STARS
Several Women of Troy had especially decorated high school careers. Two were McDonald's All-Americans — Angel Jackson and Stephanie Watts — with Jackson also earning Jordan Brand honors, and Watts as an Naismith High School All-American honoree. Two Trojans also were their state Player of the Year — Alissa Pili (Alaska) and Endyia Rogers (Texas).
Â
Â
LAST SEASONÂ
USC finished up the 2018-19 season with a 17-13 overall record after going 7-11 in Pac-12 play and with a loss in the Pac-12 Tournament first round. Seniors Aliyah Mazyck and Mariya Moore and junior Minyon Moore earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, with Mazyck and Minyon Moore both also landing on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.Â
Â
Â
CLEAR BAGS, PLEASE!
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 go to: www.galencenter.org/assets/img/Clear-Bag-Policy-0b9d0e3076.jpg. Thank you and Fight On! •
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
