Friday, February 8
Salt Lake City, UT
6:00 PM
USC
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Utah
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Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women Pack Up For Visits To No. 17 Utah And Colorado
February 05, 2019 | Women's Basketball, Features
Women of Troy face the Utes on Friday in Salt Lake City and take on the Buffs on Sunday in Boulder.
USC (13-8, 3-7) at #17 Utah (18-3, 7-3)
Huntsman Center | Salt Lake City, Utah
Friday, Feb. 8 | 7 p.m. MT
Series Record: USC leads 12-6
Home: 6-3 | Away: 5-3 | Neutral: 1-0
Last Meeting: W, 53-52 [ot] (Feb. 22, 2018 • Galen Center)
Current Streak: USC won 2
TV: Pac-12 Mountain (PbB: Krista Blunk; Analyst: Maylana Martin Douglas)
USC (13-8, 3-7) at Colorado (10-11, 0-10)
CU Events Center | Boulder, Colo.
Sunday, Feb. 10 | 1 p.m. MT
Series Record: USC leads 11-6
Home: 6-2 | Away: 5-3 | Neutral: 0-1
Last Meeting: W, 65-53 (Feb. 24, 2018 • Galen Center)
Current Streak: USC won 3
THIS WEEKÂ
The Women of Troy got a lift last week with two home victories for a boost in the Pac-12 standings. This week, USC (13-8, 3-7) hits the road for two more conference clashes. On Friday (Feb. 8), the Trojans take on No. 17 Utah (18-3, 7-3) in a 7 p.m. MT matchup in Salt Lake City. From there, USC heads to Boulder to face Colorado (10-11, 0-10) at 1 p.m. MT on Sunday (Feb. 10) at CU Events Center.
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IN THE NATION
USC is not ranked in the national polls this week. On Dec. 18, USC climbed into the USA Today Coaches rankings, weighing in at No. 25 in the land last week. It was USC's first time back in the rankings since the final AP poll of the 2013-14 season, which had USC at No. 25. The Trojans' last appearance in the USA Today poll had been Nov. 15, 2011, at No. 22.Â
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LAST ACTION
USC made it back-to-back 80-point games as the Trojans captured two Pac-12 victories at Galen Center last week. On Friday vs. Washington, USC turned a three-point lead at halftime into a 27-point blowout victory thanks in large part to a 28-point outing from redshirt freshman Shalexxus Aaron and a double-double from Minyon Moore, as the Trojans topped visiting Washington 82-57. A powerful second-half showing stoked USC to an important Pac-12 victory, breaking up a two-game skid and improving the Trojans to 12-8 overall and to 2-7 in Pac-12 play. Washington goes to 8-15, 1-9 with the road loss. Washington nailed six first-half 3-pointers to put USC under pressure, but the Trojans countered with strong defensive pressure in forcing 16 turnovers out of the Huskies in the first half to help fuel a late push to a 34-31 halftime lead. USC shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half to outpace Washington's 42.9 percent effort. In the second half, USC exploded. The Trojans shot 67.9 percent from the floor in the second half while peeling out ahead of the Huskies. By the final buzzer, USC was hitting at a 59.3 percent clip, with 17 steals accumulated and 26 assists dished out. Washington won out on the boards 30-28, but finished up at 35.6 percent from the floor while committing 24 turnovers. After being honored for hitting their 1,000th career points in a pregame ceremony, both Aliyah Mazyck and Minyon Moore went on to climb the Trojan career charts today. Mazyck's first 3-pointer of the night bumped her up to No. 5 all-time in career threes made at USC. And Moore's sixth assist pushed her into sole possession of the No. 8 all-time slot in career assists. Both Trojans went on to finish in double digits, although it was redshirt freshman Shalexxus Aaron who won the day with a career-high 28 points, including six 3-pointers made. Next in line was junior Kayla Overbeck, who scored her most points as a Trojan with 17. Moore added 13 points along with 12 assists for her eighth career double-double, and Mazyck had 11 points. Redshirt sophomore Asiah Jones also stepped up big, notching the second double-digit game of her career with 10 points. Washington received a team-high 20 points from Darcy Rees, and 14 from Mai-Loni Henson, who hit three of the Huskies' eight 3-pointers on the night. In Sunday's battle, USC took down Washington State with a 81-73 victory that saw the Trojans shoot over 50 percent from the floor for the second straight game. USC was paced by 27 points from Aliyah Mazyck — just two off her career best — as the senior rose to No. 22 all-time in career scoring and took over as USC's No. 5 all-time career 3-point shooter. Three other Trojans also tallied their second double-digit games of the week, with Minyon Moore scoring 21 today, Kayla Overbeck adding 12 and Asiah Jones pumping in 10. Overbeck also gathered in eight rebounds, matching Ja'Tavia's Tapley's effort on the boards, with Tapley also adding eight points for the Trojan cause. WSU was led by Borislava Hristova's 24 points to move up to No. 3 all-time in career scoring at WSU. She'd have a double-double a well, adding 10 rebounds, while Alexys Swedlund added 18 points and Chanelle Molina had 17 on five 3-pointers landed for the Cougars. Washington State landed seven first-half 3-pointers, finding its scoring touch at the right times to fight off the Trojans' attempts to hold onto a lead. Both teams shot hot in the first quarter, with USC at 61 percent and WSU at 65 percent from the floor as the Cougars led it 30-24 after 10 minutes of action. USC manufactured an 11-0 run as WSU went cold in the second, but the Cougars landed late threes to claw back ahead by the halftime buzzer, up 40-39. At the break, USC was shooting 51.4 percent and WSU was at 51.9. By the final buzzer, USC was up to 52.3 percent from the floor overall, just outpacing WSU's 50.9 percent. The Cougars landed 11 threes in the game. USC outrebounded the Cougars 32-28 and forced 15 WSU turnovers in gathering up 12 steals, led by five from Moore.
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SCOUTING UTAH
The No. 17 Utes are 18-3 overall and 7-3 in Pac-12 play after an 87-65 loss at Oregon and a 71-63 loss at Oregon State last week. Megan Huff leads Utah with 20.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. In series records dating back to 1977, USC is 12-6 all-time against Utah. Last season, USC swept the Utes with a 58-47 win in Salt Lake City and a 53-52 overtime victory at Galen Center..
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SCOUTING CU
The Buffs are 10-11 overall and 0-10 in Pac-12 play after fall at Oregon State 89-65 and at Oregon 102-43 last week. Kennedy Leonard leads CU in scoring with 14.1 points per game, and Mya Hollingshed leads on the boards with 7.0 rebounds per game. In series records dating back to 2002, USC is 11-6 all-time against Colorado with wins in the past three meetings. Last season, USC beat the Buffs 86-51 in Boulder and won 65-53 at Galen Center.
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INJURY REPORT
Aliyah Mazyck (ankle) and Kayla Overbeck (knee) missed USC's Nov. 23 game vs. Utah State due to injury. Mazyck and Minyon Moore (wrist) were sidelined by injury on Nov. 25 at Nevada. Mazyck also sat out the Dec. 1 game at UNLV. Cheyanne Wallace missed the Jan. 6 game at Cal (knee). Asiah Jones and Minyon Moore missed the Jan. 11 game vs. Oregon with injuries. Wallace also has been sidelined for the past three games with injury.
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1,000 POINT CLUB
In a span of two weeks, two Trojans have broken the 1,000-point barrier. On Jan. 13, USC senior guard Aliyah Mazyck clocked in with her 1,000th career point. Now with 1,094 points, Mazyck ranks No. 23 all-time in career scoring at USC. More recently, USC junior guard Minyon Moore also joined the club, notching her 1,000th career point on Jan. 27. She now grips 1,041 points as a Trojan to her name, putting her at No. 26 all-time in career scoring. In all, 28 Women of Troy have scored 1,000 points while at USC.
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MORE FOR MINYON
Junior guard Minyon Moore stands out as USC's top scorer, leading rebounder, assists leader and tops in steals so far this season. She's also on a steady rise on the USC career charts, already in the top-10 for career free throws made, free-throw percentage and career assists. With 199 career steals, she's now 11 picks away from the top-10 in that category as well.Â
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MAZYCK MAKES THE LIST
USC senior Aliyah Mazyck's notable junior season has attracted national attention, as she has been selected as one of the country's top 20 shooting guards recognized on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the list today (Oct. 23). A finalist for the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last year, Mazyck was a 2018 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention pick as a junior. That year, the Charlotte, N.C., native set a USC single-season record with 86 threes made. A full-time starter, she averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Now a senior captain for the Women of Troy, Mazyck has stepped into a leadership role that will help the speedster's upward trajectory on the Pac-12 and the national radars this season. 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 second year — recognizes the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Hampered a bit by early-season injury, Mazyck has started 14 games this season to date, averaging 14.4 points and 2.6 steals per game along with 3.7 rebounds per game. She's also climbed the career 3-point list to now rank No. 5 all-time with 156 to date.
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MARIYA ON NAISMITH WATCH LIST
As USC senior Mariya Moore engages in her first and final season of competition with the Women of Troy, the talented guard has earned national acclaim as one of 50 women's basketball players selected to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List. A transfer from Louisville last year, Moore sat out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules. At Louisville, Moore earned 2016 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, was a 2016 All-ACC First Team honoree and a 2015 and 2017 All-ACC Second Team selection. The Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List was released today (Nov. 12) by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. In February, a midseason 30 list will be release, followed by 10 semifinalists for the award to be named on March 4, 2019. Four finalists will be revealed on March 22, with the winner of the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year to be announced on April 6, 2019. The last USC player to be named to a Naismith Watch List was Cassie Harberts in 2013-14. Prior to Harberts, Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath were both selected to the Naismith Early Season Watch List at the start of the 2011-12 season. In 2006-07, Shay Murphy was on the preseason watch list, and Ebony Hoffman was a preseason candidate in 2002-03. USC already boasts two Naismith Trophy winners in three-time honoree Cheryl Miller (1984, 1985, 1986) and Lisa Leslie (1994). To date, Moore is USC's third leading scorer with 11.9 points per game, having set a new career high with 36 points scored at Cal on Jan. 6. In that game, Moore matched the USC record with seven 3-pointers made. She is currently averaging 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as USC's only full-time starter this season.
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CULTURE SHIFTÂ
As the Women of Troy progress in this 2018-19 season, the energy and excitement generated by USC's combination of Trojan veterans and fresh faces is palpable. Along with the return of Pac-12 honorees Aliyah Mazyck and Minyon Moore, there are six Women of Troy who have seen their first game action in a USC jersey. Transfers Mariya Moore, Kayla Overbeck and Cheyanne Wallace are three of those six Women of Troy having logged their first minutes at USC. Shalexxus Aaron, meanwhile, is finally off the sidelines and in full force after sitting out the 2017-18 season with injury, and adds a deft shooting hand to the back court. The other two newbies forward Jillian Archer and guard Desiree Caldwell, who are USC's two true freshmen this season. Altogether, USC's six newcomers are averaging a combined 34.4 points per game in these first 20 games.
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SENIOR STRENGTH
USC's senior class offers a window into the new formula that head coach Mark Trakh is working with this season — a blend of players with diverse talents and diverse experience. Aliyah Mazyck is USC's record-holder for single-season 3-pointers made and is coming off a junior season where she averaged 16.5 points per game. Seniors Mariya Moore and Cheyanne Wallace, meanwhile, bring another angle of experience to the picture. Moore was a decorated player at Louisville, then transferred to USC last season. This year marks her first game action as a Trojan. Wallace also opted to change course to USC, coming across town from Loyola Marymount to get in the mix this season as a grad transfer. Currently, Mazyck, Moore and Wallace currently stand as USC's second, third and seventh leading scorers, respectively.
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POWER AT THE POST
USC has two standout juniors lined up for duty as veterans on the post. Ja'Tavia Tapley was the sixth man last year, and her 6-3 frame and incredible athleticism have helped her into a full-time starting role this season. Newly crowned for her junior season at USC is Vanderbilt transfer Kayla Overbeck, whose waiver to compete immediately as a Trojan was granted by the NCAA. An All-SEC honoree as a freshman, Overbeck adds yet another valuable depth charge to the post for USC. Redshirt sophomore Asiah Jones also is back in the lineup after a year sidelined by injury, and the athletic post brings length and serious leaping ability to the paint for the Trojans. Freshman Jillian Archer also is in regular rotation at the post, helping USC boast important depth down low.
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SEASON OPENER
USC's season opener was highlighted by debut performances from six new Trojans. Competing for USC for the first time, all six Trojans scored in a 73-55 win over visiting UC Riverside. A relative veteran at Troy, junior Minyon Moore led the way with a double-double — the fifth of her USC career — on a team-high 16 points and 12 rebounds to go with seven assists, as USC opened the 2018-19 campaign with a 1-0 mark. USC gripped a 12-point lead during the first half, but it would melt away as UC Riverside battled back to level it at 30-30 by halftime. That's when the Trojans turned the tide. USC outscored the Highlanders 27-12 in the third quarter to open things up, and the Trojans finished out the game shooting 44.6 percent from the floor to outpace UC Riverside's 38.3 outing. USC also outrebounded its visitors, 37-30, and went 50 percent from beyond the arc (10-of-20). One rebound shy of double digits at halftime, Minyon Moore collected three more in the second half while pumping out 12 second-half points. The first Trojan to hit double digits in the game, however, was senior transfer Mariya Moore, who shined in her Trojan debut with 11 points with three 3-pointers landed. Joining the 3-point parade for USC were two more Women of Troy hitting the court for the first time. Senior transfer Cheyanne Wallace went 2-for-2 from long distance, while redshirt freshman Shalexxus Aaron also tallied two treys in her first USC action. Junior transfer Kayla Overbeck may not have spotted up from beyond the arc, but she made her presence known down low, dumping in 10 points as she, too, hit the floor as a Trojan for the first time. Another newcomer to the paint at USC was freshman Jillian Archer, who provided five points on the night. True freshman guard Deisree Caldwell, meanwhile, had two points and two steals in her USC debut. In all, every USC player who got in the game would score in the victory. Junior Ja'Tavia Tapley was just short of double digits in finishing with nine points. Back in action after redshirting last season with injury was redshirt sophomore Asiah Jones, who had four points along with five boards.
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LAST SEASON
USC finished up the 2017-18 season with a 20-11 overall record in head coach Mark Trakh's return to the helm of the program. In Pac-12 play, USC finished in seventh place at 7-7 and fell in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. Senior Kristen Simon picked up a place on the All-Pac-12 Team, while junior Aliyah Mazyck earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and was a finalist for Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. She and sophomore Minyon Moore both landed on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. Along the way, Mazyck also set a new USC record for single-season 3-pointers made with 86.
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