Wednesday, December 21
Los Angeles, Calif.
2:00 PM
USC
vs
Saint Mary's (California)
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women’s Basketball Hosts Saint Mary’s On Wednesday At Galen Center
December 20, 2022 | Women's Basketball
Trojans look for a winning boost before turning back to Pac-12 play after the holiday break.
USC (9-2) vs. Saint Mary's (7-4)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 2 p.m.
Series Record (since 2013-14): USC trails 0-2
Last Meeting: L 64-58 [12/6/14 • Moraga, Calif.]
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC returns to home turf before breaking for the holidays, set up with a midweek matchup against visiting Saint Mary's at Galen Center. The Trojans (9-2) and Gaels (7-4) will tip off at 2 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 21).
FOLLOW ALONG
Wednesday's USC-SMC battle will stream live at pac-12.com/live/usc with Carlo Jiménez on the call.
IN THE POLLS
USC was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today poll. In the latest round of national rankings, USC is receiving votes in the USA Today Poll (released Dec. 20). USC entered this week rated 42 in the NET rankings.
USC IN THE NATION
USC entered the week ranked as the No. 5 team in the nation in scoring defense, having allowed just 50.2 points per game through its 9-2 start to the season. The Trojans also are top-25 in four other categories: 3-point percentage defense (3rd — 22.0%), field goal percentage defense (10th ‚ 33.3%), blocks per game (11th - 5.6 bpg) and steals per game (24th — 11.6).
TROJANS IN THE NATION
Individually, USC enters the week with a couple players making their mark on the national stat sheets. With 3.22 blocks per game, Rayah Marshall ranks No. 4 in the nation. She's also No. 7 in total blocks (27) and No. 20 in total double-doubles with five. Kadi Sissoko's field goal percentage of 59.8 has her at No. 21 in the nation.
LAST ACTION
USC had a tough battle in Dallas, taking a 62-48 loss to Texas at the Pac-12 US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge at American Airlines Arena. Rayah Marshall had nine rebounds in the first half for the Trojans, but USC was in a 29-22 halftime hole on 24-percent shooting in the first half. Texas was hitting at a 34-percent clip by the break to help build that halftime advantage in Dallas. Marshall would work her way into a double-double on the day as the Trojans won out on the boards 42-35 by the final buzzer, but the Longhorns' scoring pace still outdid the Trojans, who shot a season-low 32 percent and committed a season-high 29 turnovers. Texas finished up at 38.2 percent overall and tallied 25 points off Trojan turnovers. USC received a team-high 12 points apiece from Marshall and Kadi Sissoko along with a game-high 18 rebounds from Marshall. Texas was paced by a 22 points from Shaylee Gonzales and 16 from DeYona Gaston on the day.
NOTABLE:
- With two blocks, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 32 consecutive games played.
- Marshall tied her career high of 18 rebounds and recorded her 11th career double-double in adding 12 points.
- Marshall leads the team with five double-doubles this season.
- With 12 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored in double digits for the 10th game this season.
- GS Okako Adika's two blocks tied her career high.
- USC committed a season-high 29 turnovers.
- USC's 32.0 percent shooting was a season low.
BATTLING THE BRUINS
USC reeled in its rival UCLA in the second half but was unable to pull off the upset as the No. 10 Bruins earned a 59-56 win over the Trojans in a Pac-12 opener at Galen Center. The loss snapped USC's undefeated start to the season. The lead traded hands three times and was tied up five times in the first half before UCLA made a late push in outscoring USC 13-4 in the last two minutes to go up 39-28 at the break. The Bruins were shooting 43.6 percent from the floor to outpace USC's 33.3 percent, while UCLA had the edge on the boards 22-18 through those first 20 minutes of rivalry action. The Trojans would up their defensive pressure in the second half, holding the Bruins to just 21 percent from the floor while allowing just seven UCLA points in the fourth. But the equalizer would not come for USC, who wound up three points short of forcing OT. USC finished the game shooting 34.5 percent overall to better UCLA's 32.9 percent. USC landed six 3-pointers to three by its rival, but UCLA benefitted from 20 offensive rebounds and finished ahead on the boards overall 47-36 to help fend off the Trojans. USC received a game-high 20 points from Kadi Sissoko and a double-double from Rayah Marshall on 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Destiny Littleton added 10 points for the Trojans and Taylor Bigby nailed three 3-pointers. UCLA was led by Emily Bessoir's 16 points along with 14 each from Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne, who also tallied a double-double with 13 rebounds for the Bruins. USC was trailing 52-44 entering the fourth quarter before Taylor Bigby opened the Trojans' account in the frame with a 3-pointer, and a Sissoko free throw pulled the margin to four at 52-48 three minutes into the fourth. Marshall got in on the 3-point action with a baseline three that got USC one back, down 52-51 with 4:40 to go. Entering the final minute of the fourth, it was a three-point difference on a make from Sissoko, who tugged the Trojans to within reach, down 59-56 on her 20th points of the night. A defensive rebound by Littleton got USC on the attack for a look at an equalizer, but the final shot eluded the Trojans and it was the Bruins who emerged with the 59-56 win at Galen Center.
NOTABLE:
- With four blocks, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 31 consecutive games played.
- With 15 points, Marshall scored in double digits for the sixth time this season.
- With 10 points, GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the ninth time this season.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied a career-high three 3-pointers made.
- Marshall made her first three-pointer of the season.
- Marshall recorded her 10th career double-double and team-high fourth this season with her 15 points and 10 rebounds.
- GS Destiny Littleton tied a career-high with seven assists.
- With 20 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored 20 or more points for the third time this season, her ninth game in double digits overall at USC.
- USC held UCLA to a season-low 59 points and a season-low 13% (3-of-23) from 3-point range.
- UCLA's seven points scored in the fourth quarter marks the ninth time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
TRANSFER TIME
USC grad transfers Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton have emerged as top impact players in their first season as Trojans. USC's leading scorers, Sissoko and Littleton are averaging 16.8 and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Sissoko tops all Trojans with 10 double-digit outings to date, including three games with 20+ points. Littleton, meanwhile, has hit double digits in nine games so far.
COMING UP BIG
USC redshirt freshman transfer Taylor Bigby is hitting her stride as a Trojan, now with at least one 3-pointer scored in five of USC's last six games. She averaged 2.8 points per game in the first five games of the year, and has averaged 10.2 ppg in the last six games thanks in part to a career-high 21 points vs. Merrimack.
RAYAH'S PAC-12 POWER
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall added to her Pac-12 accolades with her earning of All-Pac-12 Preseason Honorable Mention from the media. The top-ranked freshman in the nation in blocks last season, Marshall is back for more in her second year as a Trojan. Marshall earned All-Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention last year, and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She was USC's third leading scorer with 11. 3 points per game while dominating the boards with a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with her 2.54 blocks per game — ranking her No. 12 overall in the nation in that category in 2021-22. So far in her 2022-23 sophomore campaign, Marshall is close to averaging a double-double with her 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game — not to mention her 3.2 blocks per game.
2022-23 TROJANS
The Women of Troy are a dynamic group with solid returning talent along with a powerful group of newcomers. The 2022-23 roster features All-Pac-12 honoree Rayah Marshall and its top 3-point scorer Alyson Miura returning from last season, in addition to seven transfers ready to hit the court in Cardinal and Gold. USC's group of grad transfers features an NCAA champion in Destiny Littleton along with three standout internationals in Kadi Sissoko, Rokia Doumbia and Okako Adika. USC has also welcomed undergraduate transfers Kayla Williams, Koi Love and Taylor Bigby to the Trojan Family.
SIGNED!
JUJU WATKINS | Sierra Canyon HS (Watts, Calif.)
The USC women's basketball program has the stage set for some serious star power with the addition of the nation's top high school player, guard JuJu Watkins, who signed a national letter of intent to join the Women of Troy in 2023. Heralded as the best in the USA, Watkins named the 2022 MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a junior. A native of Watts, Calif., Watkins is sticking to her Los Angeles roots in becoming a Trojan. In addition to her numerous California state accolades, she also brings in significant international experience as a member of the United States U-17 and U-16 national teams. She was named the MVP of the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in helping Team USA to a gold medal at that event. And in 2021, she was the MVP of the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, where the U.S. squad also won gold. The 6-1 guard has played club ball for Sports Academy Swish GBL. And in her junior season with Sierra Canyon, Watkins piled up state honors as the Gatorade California Girls Basketball Player of the Year, CIF Mc. Basketball State Player of the Year, Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year in 2022.
MALIA SAMUELS | Garfield HS (Seattle, Wash.)
USC gets another guard stronger with the addition of Seattle product Malia Samuels, who signed a national letter of intent to become a Trojan. A 5-6 guard, Samuels was the 2021-22 3A Washington State Player of the Year as a junior. Also named State Tournament MVP that season, she was an All-State First Team honoree. A regular on all-state honor rolls and the 2022 Metro League Player of the Year, she averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 assist, 6.1 steals and 3.4 rebounds per game at the guard slots. At the club level, she has competed for Greyhounds and is considered the top girls basketball recruit out of the state of Washington in this 2023 class. •
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 2 p.m.
Series Record (since 2013-14): USC trails 0-2
Last Meeting: L 64-58 [12/6/14 • Moraga, Calif.]
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC returns to home turf before breaking for the holidays, set up with a midweek matchup against visiting Saint Mary's at Galen Center. The Trojans (9-2) and Gaels (7-4) will tip off at 2 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 21).
FOLLOW ALONG
Wednesday's USC-SMC battle will stream live at pac-12.com/live/usc with Carlo Jiménez on the call.
IN THE POLLS
USC was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today poll. In the latest round of national rankings, USC is receiving votes in the USA Today Poll (released Dec. 20). USC entered this week rated 42 in the NET rankings.
USC IN THE NATION
USC entered the week ranked as the No. 5 team in the nation in scoring defense, having allowed just 50.2 points per game through its 9-2 start to the season. The Trojans also are top-25 in four other categories: 3-point percentage defense (3rd — 22.0%), field goal percentage defense (10th ‚ 33.3%), blocks per game (11th - 5.6 bpg) and steals per game (24th — 11.6).
TROJANS IN THE NATION
Individually, USC enters the week with a couple players making their mark on the national stat sheets. With 3.22 blocks per game, Rayah Marshall ranks No. 4 in the nation. She's also No. 7 in total blocks (27) and No. 20 in total double-doubles with five. Kadi Sissoko's field goal percentage of 59.8 has her at No. 21 in the nation.
LAST ACTION
USC had a tough battle in Dallas, taking a 62-48 loss to Texas at the Pac-12 US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge at American Airlines Arena. Rayah Marshall had nine rebounds in the first half for the Trojans, but USC was in a 29-22 halftime hole on 24-percent shooting in the first half. Texas was hitting at a 34-percent clip by the break to help build that halftime advantage in Dallas. Marshall would work her way into a double-double on the day as the Trojans won out on the boards 42-35 by the final buzzer, but the Longhorns' scoring pace still outdid the Trojans, who shot a season-low 32 percent and committed a season-high 29 turnovers. Texas finished up at 38.2 percent overall and tallied 25 points off Trojan turnovers. USC received a team-high 12 points apiece from Marshall and Kadi Sissoko along with a game-high 18 rebounds from Marshall. Texas was paced by a 22 points from Shaylee Gonzales and 16 from DeYona Gaston on the day.
NOTABLE:
- With two blocks, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 32 consecutive games played.
- Marshall tied her career high of 18 rebounds and recorded her 11th career double-double in adding 12 points.
- Marshall leads the team with five double-doubles this season.
- With 12 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored in double digits for the 10th game this season.
- GS Okako Adika's two blocks tied her career high.
- USC committed a season-high 29 turnovers.
- USC's 32.0 percent shooting was a season low.
BATTLING THE BRUINS
USC reeled in its rival UCLA in the second half but was unable to pull off the upset as the No. 10 Bruins earned a 59-56 win over the Trojans in a Pac-12 opener at Galen Center. The loss snapped USC's undefeated start to the season. The lead traded hands three times and was tied up five times in the first half before UCLA made a late push in outscoring USC 13-4 in the last two minutes to go up 39-28 at the break. The Bruins were shooting 43.6 percent from the floor to outpace USC's 33.3 percent, while UCLA had the edge on the boards 22-18 through those first 20 minutes of rivalry action. The Trojans would up their defensive pressure in the second half, holding the Bruins to just 21 percent from the floor while allowing just seven UCLA points in the fourth. But the equalizer would not come for USC, who wound up three points short of forcing OT. USC finished the game shooting 34.5 percent overall to better UCLA's 32.9 percent. USC landed six 3-pointers to three by its rival, but UCLA benefitted from 20 offensive rebounds and finished ahead on the boards overall 47-36 to help fend off the Trojans. USC received a game-high 20 points from Kadi Sissoko and a double-double from Rayah Marshall on 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Destiny Littleton added 10 points for the Trojans and Taylor Bigby nailed three 3-pointers. UCLA was led by Emily Bessoir's 16 points along with 14 each from Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne, who also tallied a double-double with 13 rebounds for the Bruins. USC was trailing 52-44 entering the fourth quarter before Taylor Bigby opened the Trojans' account in the frame with a 3-pointer, and a Sissoko free throw pulled the margin to four at 52-48 three minutes into the fourth. Marshall got in on the 3-point action with a baseline three that got USC one back, down 52-51 with 4:40 to go. Entering the final minute of the fourth, it was a three-point difference on a make from Sissoko, who tugged the Trojans to within reach, down 59-56 on her 20th points of the night. A defensive rebound by Littleton got USC on the attack for a look at an equalizer, but the final shot eluded the Trojans and it was the Bruins who emerged with the 59-56 win at Galen Center.
NOTABLE:
- With four blocks, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 31 consecutive games played.
- With 15 points, Marshall scored in double digits for the sixth time this season.
- With 10 points, GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the ninth time this season.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied a career-high three 3-pointers made.
- Marshall made her first three-pointer of the season.
- Marshall recorded her 10th career double-double and team-high fourth this season with her 15 points and 10 rebounds.
- GS Destiny Littleton tied a career-high with seven assists.
- With 20 points, GS Kadi Sissoko scored 20 or more points for the third time this season, her ninth game in double digits overall at USC.
- USC held UCLA to a season-low 59 points and a season-low 13% (3-of-23) from 3-point range.
- UCLA's seven points scored in the fourth quarter marks the ninth time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
TRANSFER TIME
USC grad transfers Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton have emerged as top impact players in their first season as Trojans. USC's leading scorers, Sissoko and Littleton are averaging 16.8 and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Sissoko tops all Trojans with 10 double-digit outings to date, including three games with 20+ points. Littleton, meanwhile, has hit double digits in nine games so far.
COMING UP BIG
USC redshirt freshman transfer Taylor Bigby is hitting her stride as a Trojan, now with at least one 3-pointer scored in five of USC's last six games. She averaged 2.8 points per game in the first five games of the year, and has averaged 10.2 ppg in the last six games thanks in part to a career-high 21 points vs. Merrimack.
RAYAH'S PAC-12 POWER
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall added to her Pac-12 accolades with her earning of All-Pac-12 Preseason Honorable Mention from the media. The top-ranked freshman in the nation in blocks last season, Marshall is back for more in her second year as a Trojan. Marshall earned All-Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention last year, and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She was USC's third leading scorer with 11. 3 points per game while dominating the boards with a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with her 2.54 blocks per game — ranking her No. 12 overall in the nation in that category in 2021-22. So far in her 2022-23 sophomore campaign, Marshall is close to averaging a double-double with her 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game — not to mention her 3.2 blocks per game.
2022-23 TROJANS
The Women of Troy are a dynamic group with solid returning talent along with a powerful group of newcomers. The 2022-23 roster features All-Pac-12 honoree Rayah Marshall and its top 3-point scorer Alyson Miura returning from last season, in addition to seven transfers ready to hit the court in Cardinal and Gold. USC's group of grad transfers features an NCAA champion in Destiny Littleton along with three standout internationals in Kadi Sissoko, Rokia Doumbia and Okako Adika. USC has also welcomed undergraduate transfers Kayla Williams, Koi Love and Taylor Bigby to the Trojan Family.
SIGNED!
JUJU WATKINS | Sierra Canyon HS (Watts, Calif.)
The USC women's basketball program has the stage set for some serious star power with the addition of the nation's top high school player, guard JuJu Watkins, who signed a national letter of intent to join the Women of Troy in 2023. Heralded as the best in the USA, Watkins named the 2022 MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a junior. A native of Watts, Calif., Watkins is sticking to her Los Angeles roots in becoming a Trojan. In addition to her numerous California state accolades, she also brings in significant international experience as a member of the United States U-17 and U-16 national teams. She was named the MVP of the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in helping Team USA to a gold medal at that event. And in 2021, she was the MVP of the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, where the U.S. squad also won gold. The 6-1 guard has played club ball for Sports Academy Swish GBL. And in her junior season with Sierra Canyon, Watkins piled up state honors as the Gatorade California Girls Basketball Player of the Year, CIF Mc. Basketball State Player of the Year, Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year in 2022.
MALIA SAMUELS | Garfield HS (Seattle, Wash.)
USC gets another guard stronger with the addition of Seattle product Malia Samuels, who signed a national letter of intent to become a Trojan. A 5-6 guard, Samuels was the 2021-22 3A Washington State Player of the Year as a junior. Also named State Tournament MVP that season, she was an All-State First Team honoree. A regular on all-state honor rolls and the 2022 Metro League Player of the Year, she averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 assist, 6.1 steals and 3.4 rebounds per game at the guard slots. At the club level, she has competed for Greyhounds and is considered the top girls basketball recruit out of the state of Washington in this 2023 class. •
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
