Friday, January 20
Pullman, Wash.
7:00 PM
USC
at
Washington State
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women’s Basketball Takes Pac-12 Road Trip To WSU and Washington
January 17, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Trojans visit the Cougs on Friday night in Pullman before heading to Seattle to face the Huskies on Sunday.
USC (13-4, 3-3) vs. Washington St. (13-4, 3-3)
Beasley Coliseum | Pullman, Wash.
Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.
Series Record (since 1981-82): USC leads 54-20 (L2)
Last Meeting: L 57-54 [2/13/22 • Pullman]
Last USC win: 81-71 [2/7/21 • Pullman]
TV: P12 Washington (Talent: Greg Heister & Stephanie Hawk-Freeman)
STREAM | STATS
USC vs. Washington (10-6, 2-4)
Alaska Airlines Arena | Seattle, Wash.
Sunday, Jan. 22 | 12 p.m.
Series Record (since 1986-87): USC trails 35-37 (W3)
Last Meeting: W 70-59 [2/11/22 • Seattle]
Last USC loss: 75-66 [2/21/20 • Seattle]
TV: P12 Washington (Talent: Elise Woodward & Alyssa Charlston)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC looks to gather up more Pac-12 victories this week with action in Washington. USC visits Washington State at 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 20) in Pullman and then heads to Seattle to take on Washington at 12 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 22).
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's USC-Cal clash will be broadcast on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Tammy Blackburn and Jim Watson on the call. Sunday's game vs. the Cardinal will air on Pac-12 Networks with Anne Marie Anderson and Mary Murphy on the call. Games will also stream live at pac-12.com/live.
IN THE POLLS
USC was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today poll. USC is receiving votes in both polls in the latest round of national rankings (as of Jan. 17). USC enters this week rated 37 in the NET rankings.
USC IN THE NATION
USC entered the week ranked as the No. 6 team in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 51.6 points per game percent through its 13-4 start to the season. The Trojans also are top-10 in three other categories: 3-point percentage defense (6th — 23.6%), field goal percentage defense (6th‚ 33.2%) and blocks per game (10th - 5.5 bpg).
TROJANS IN THE NATION
Individually, USC enters the week with a few players making their mark on the national stat sheets. With 2.87 blocks per game, Rayah Marshall ranks No. 5 in the nation. She's also No. 8 in total blocks (43) and No. 17 in total double-doubles with nine. Marshall also is making her mark on the boards, ranked No. 16 with her 10.4 rebounds per game and No. 11 with 7.6 defensive rebounds per game. Another Trojans in the nation's top-50 to date is Destiny Littleton, who ranks No. 32nd with a free-throw percentage of 88.6 and 46th with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.21.
DESTINY DOES IT
Guard Destiny Littleton has grabbed her first honor as the Pac-12 Player of the Week after her instrumental role in leading the Trojans to a sweep of the Bay Area schools, topped off with a statement-making upset of No. 2 Stanford at Galen Center. Littleton tallied a game-high 18 points in both wins and served up five assists against Cal and six against Stanford. In the Trojans' 55-46 win over the Cardinal, Littleton played the full 40 minutes to help anchor USC's first win over an opponent ranked No. 2 or better since 2008. USC's upset also snapped the Cardinal's 39-game win streak against Pac-12 opponents. Defensively, USC held Stanford to its lowest point total since 2016. It was USC's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 12-point win in 1993. Littleton has now recorded double digits in three straight game as she now leads the team with 13 double-digit outings this season. She is the second Trojan to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week this season and 52nd all-time, following teammate Rayah Marshall's win on Jan. 2.
RAYAH REIGNS AS PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall was the driving force for the Trojans in a key Pac-12 road split, ringing in the new year with her first career selection as the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Jan. 2. The versatile forward made her mark in the USC history books with the most points scored by a Trojan since 2019 when she pinned up a career-high 33 points in the Trojans' win at Oregon State on Dec. 30. She'd haul in 16 rebounds in that one and keep her blocks streak alive and well with four in USC's victory. It was the just the seventh 30-point and 15-rebound double-double by any player in the NCAA this season and the first such outing by a Trojan since at least 1999-2000. Marshall also accounted for 16 of USC's 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Beavers and had over half USC's total team rebounds in the win. At No. 17 Oregon on New Year's Day, Marshall continued her blocks streak in stretching her run to 34 straight games with at least one block while also tallying her fifth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It is the first career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for Marshall and the 51st overall for the Women of Troy all-time.
TOP-2 TAKEDOWN
USC shocked the No. 2 team in the nation, handing Stanford just its second loss of the year as the Trojans never trailed the Cardinal on the way to a 55-46 victory today at Galen Center. It was the first win for USC over a No. 2 opponent since the Trojans topped Stanford at home in 2008 and second win over an AP top-five opponent under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. The home sweep was anchored by Destiny Littleton, who scored another game-high 18 points to help her Trojans improve to 13-4 overall and to 3-3 in Pac-12 play. USC never trailed in the first half after taking a quick 6-0 lead on Stanford. The Trojans and the Cardinal each shot 29 percent overall in the first twenty minutes, but USC had landed three 3-pointers to just one by Stanford to help lead it 24-19 at halftime. USC was up 20-18 on the boards to that point to help keep the Cardinal at bay. Try as it may, Stanford was unable to shake the Trojans, who built a 10-point lead entering the fourth and found the points they needed to stay in front. By the final buzzer, USC had shot just 27.3 percent from the floor, but was 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19) to counter the Cardinal's 30.9 percent overall shooting and 4-of-21 effort from beyond the arc. USC committed just seven turnovers to 14 by the Cardinal, who did win out on the boards 40-36. USC received a game-high 18 points from Destiny Littleton along with the first double-double of Okako Adika's season as a Trojan on 11 points and 11 rebounds. USC played just seven Trojans in the game, while Stanford had 13 Cardinal see action, with Cameron Brink the only one in double digits with 11 points and 14 rebounds on the day.
NOTABLE:
- USC defeated a team ranked No. 2 or better for the first time since January 6, 2008 (defeated No. 2 Stanford 73-72).
- USC collects its second victory vs. an AP top-five team under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb (defeated No. 4 Arizona January 9, 2022)
- USC secured its first victory over Stanford since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament semifinals (March 8), snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Cardinal.
- USC's seven turnovers were a season low.
- Stanford's four points scored in the first quarter marked the 14th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- USC held Stanford to four first-quarter points, the fewest Stanford has scored in a quarter all season.
- Stanford's four first-quarter points tied the fewest allowed by USC (last vs. CSU Bakersfield) this season.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low halftime score of 19 points.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low 46 points, a season-low 30% (17-55) from the field and a season low 19% (4-21) from three.
- Stanford's 46 points marks the ninth time USC held an opponent under 50 points this season.
- Stanford's 46 points are the fewest it has scored in a game since January 24, 2016.
- For the seventh time this season USC never trailed during the game.
- USC's eight 3-pointers made were the most against a Pac-12 opponent this season.
- USC's 27%(15-55) from the field is the lowest in program history during a victory.
- USC completed their first home sweep of the Bay Area schools (California and Stanford) since the 2003-04 season.
- For the first time this season Stanford trailed behind USC for three quarters
- Today's 55-46 win was UCS's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 67-55 home win on January 18, 1993.
- With one block, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 38 consecutive games played.
- With 18 pts GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the 13th time this season — it was her second straight game with a game-high 18 points.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high of three 3-pointers made.
- GS Okako Adika earned her first double-double at USC with 11 pts and 11 rebounds (third career double-double).
BEATING THE BEARS
USC leapt into an early lead and stayed in control from wire to wire to collect a 63-43 Pac-12 victory over visiting California at Galen Center. Another double-double from Rayah Marshall helped anchor things, although the Trojans had plenty of help down the line to shore up the win. Marshall was closing in on a double-double by halftime, but it was some tough defense that was stealing the show for USC in the first half. The Trojans forced 18 first-half turnovers out of the Golden Bears en route to a 33-14 lead by the break. USC was shooting 39.4 percent in those first 20 minutes while Cal shot 27.3 percent. The Bears improved in the third quarter and finished out the game at 30 percent overall, although the Trojans kept clicking and wrapped the game at 38.6 percent on the offensive end. USC also won out on the boards 42-34. Destiny Littleton scored 14 points in the second half to finish as the game's top scorer with 18 points on the night, and Marshall tallied her ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Cal was paced by Evelien Lute Schipholt's 14 points.
NOTABLE:
- With one block, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 37 consecutive games played.
- With 17 pts and 11 rebounds, Marshall earns her ninth double-double this season and the 15th of her career.
- Marshall has now scored in double digits for seven straight games.
- With 18 points, GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the 12th time this season.
- With eight points, SO Clarice Akunwafo set a new season high.
- Akunwafo also tied her career high of three blocks.
- With four rebounds, RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high.
- JR Koi Love tied a season-high with three steals.
- USC held its opponent to just 14 total points in the first half for the third time this season.
- Cal's six points scored in the first quarter and eight in the second quarter marked the 12th and 13th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- Allowing just six points in the first quarter, USC held California to a season low for points in a quarter.
- USC held its opponent to just 14 total points in the first half for the third time this season.
- USC held Cal to a season-low 43 points and a season-low 30% (18 of 60) from the field.
- USC won by double digits for the 10th time this season, its eighth win by 20 points or more.
- For the sixth time this season USC never trailed during the game.
TRANSFER TIME
USC grad transfers Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton have emerged as top impact players in their first season as Trojans. Sissoko and Littleton are averaging 15.3 and 12.0 points per game, respectively. Littleton has provided double digits in 12 games this season, and Sissoko has done so in 10 games before being sidelined temporarily by injury. Sissoko also has recorded three games with 20+ points.
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 eight of USC's last 10 games. She averaged 2.8 points per game in the first five games of the year, and has averaged 8.0 ppg in the last 11 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 has made an indelible mark with her 33-point outing in USC's win at Oregon State. Averaging 14.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game to date, she's collected nine double-doubles this season and is one of the nation's top blockers with her 3.0 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.
MID-YEAR MAGIC
USC's backcourt gets another boost with the addition of 5-9 guard Dominique Onu, who has come to Troy as a mid-year transfer from UCLA. After two seasons with the Bruins, the Florida native joined the Trojans in January 2023 and will compete for USC starting in Fall 2023. Ranked as the No. 26 recruit in the nation in 2021, Onu prepped at Blair Academy in New Jersey before signing on with UCLA, where she enrolled early as a true freshman in 2020-21. Onu played in 16 games as a freshman and in 27 with seven starts as a sophomore last season. She averaged 5.4 points per game in her sophomore season and set her career high with 16 points at Oregon. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Onu helped Blair Academy win the NJISAA State title as a junior in 2020, averaging 15.8 points per game that year.
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. •
Beasley Coliseum | Pullman, Wash.
Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.
Series Record (since 1981-82): USC leads 54-20 (L2)
Last Meeting: L 57-54 [2/13/22 • Pullman]
Last USC win: 81-71 [2/7/21 • Pullman]
TV: P12 Washington (Talent: Greg Heister & Stephanie Hawk-Freeman)
STREAM | STATS
USC vs. Washington (10-6, 2-4)
Alaska Airlines Arena | Seattle, Wash.
Sunday, Jan. 22 | 12 p.m.
Series Record (since 1986-87): USC trails 35-37 (W3)
Last Meeting: W 70-59 [2/11/22 • Seattle]
Last USC loss: 75-66 [2/21/20 • Seattle]
TV: P12 Washington (Talent: Elise Woodward & Alyssa Charlston)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
USC looks to gather up more Pac-12 victories this week with action in Washington. USC visits Washington State at 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 20) in Pullman and then heads to Seattle to take on Washington at 12 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 22).
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's USC-Cal clash will be broadcast on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Tammy Blackburn and Jim Watson on the call. Sunday's game vs. the Cardinal will air on Pac-12 Networks with Anne Marie Anderson and Mary Murphy on the call. Games will also stream live at pac-12.com/live.
IN THE POLLS
USC was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today poll. USC is receiving votes in both polls in the latest round of national rankings (as of Jan. 17). USC enters this week rated 37 in the NET rankings.
USC IN THE NATION
USC entered the week ranked as the No. 6 team in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 51.6 points per game percent through its 13-4 start to the season. The Trojans also are top-10 in three other categories: 3-point percentage defense (6th — 23.6%), field goal percentage defense (6th‚ 33.2%) and blocks per game (10th - 5.5 bpg).
TROJANS IN THE NATION
Individually, USC enters the week with a few players making their mark on the national stat sheets. With 2.87 blocks per game, Rayah Marshall ranks No. 5 in the nation. She's also No. 8 in total blocks (43) and No. 17 in total double-doubles with nine. Marshall also is making her mark on the boards, ranked No. 16 with her 10.4 rebounds per game and No. 11 with 7.6 defensive rebounds per game. Another Trojans in the nation's top-50 to date is Destiny Littleton, who ranks No. 32nd with a free-throw percentage of 88.6 and 46th with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.21.
DESTINY DOES IT
Guard Destiny Littleton has grabbed her first honor as the Pac-12 Player of the Week after her instrumental role in leading the Trojans to a sweep of the Bay Area schools, topped off with a statement-making upset of No. 2 Stanford at Galen Center. Littleton tallied a game-high 18 points in both wins and served up five assists against Cal and six against Stanford. In the Trojans' 55-46 win over the Cardinal, Littleton played the full 40 minutes to help anchor USC's first win over an opponent ranked No. 2 or better since 2008. USC's upset also snapped the Cardinal's 39-game win streak against Pac-12 opponents. Defensively, USC held Stanford to its lowest point total since 2016. It was USC's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 12-point win in 1993. Littleton has now recorded double digits in three straight game as she now leads the team with 13 double-digit outings this season. She is the second Trojan to be named Pac-12 Player of the Week this season and 52nd all-time, following teammate Rayah Marshall's win on Jan. 2.
RAYAH REIGNS AS PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
USC sophomore Rayah Marshall was the driving force for the Trojans in a key Pac-12 road split, ringing in the new year with her first career selection as the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Jan. 2. The versatile forward made her mark in the USC history books with the most points scored by a Trojan since 2019 when she pinned up a career-high 33 points in the Trojans' win at Oregon State on Dec. 30. She'd haul in 16 rebounds in that one and keep her blocks streak alive and well with four in USC's victory. It was the just the seventh 30-point and 15-rebound double-double by any player in the NCAA this season and the first such outing by a Trojan since at least 1999-2000. Marshall also accounted for 16 of USC's 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Beavers and had over half USC's total team rebounds in the win. At No. 17 Oregon on New Year's Day, Marshall continued her blocks streak in stretching her run to 34 straight games with at least one block while also tallying her fifth consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It is the first career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for Marshall and the 51st overall for the Women of Troy all-time.
TOP-2 TAKEDOWN
USC shocked the No. 2 team in the nation, handing Stanford just its second loss of the year as the Trojans never trailed the Cardinal on the way to a 55-46 victory today at Galen Center. It was the first win for USC over a No. 2 opponent since the Trojans topped Stanford at home in 2008 and second win over an AP top-five opponent under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. The home sweep was anchored by Destiny Littleton, who scored another game-high 18 points to help her Trojans improve to 13-4 overall and to 3-3 in Pac-12 play. USC never trailed in the first half after taking a quick 6-0 lead on Stanford. The Trojans and the Cardinal each shot 29 percent overall in the first twenty minutes, but USC had landed three 3-pointers to just one by Stanford to help lead it 24-19 at halftime. USC was up 20-18 on the boards to that point to help keep the Cardinal at bay. Try as it may, Stanford was unable to shake the Trojans, who built a 10-point lead entering the fourth and found the points they needed to stay in front. By the final buzzer, USC had shot just 27.3 percent from the floor, but was 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19) to counter the Cardinal's 30.9 percent overall shooting and 4-of-21 effort from beyond the arc. USC committed just seven turnovers to 14 by the Cardinal, who did win out on the boards 40-36. USC received a game-high 18 points from Destiny Littleton along with the first double-double of Okako Adika's season as a Trojan on 11 points and 11 rebounds. USC played just seven Trojans in the game, while Stanford had 13 Cardinal see action, with Cameron Brink the only one in double digits with 11 points and 14 rebounds on the day.
NOTABLE:
- USC defeated a team ranked No. 2 or better for the first time since January 6, 2008 (defeated No. 2 Stanford 73-72).
- USC collects its second victory vs. an AP top-five team under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb (defeated No. 4 Arizona January 9, 2022)
- USC secured its first victory over Stanford since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament semifinals (March 8), snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Cardinal.
- USC's seven turnovers were a season low.
- Stanford's four points scored in the first quarter marked the 14th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- USC held Stanford to four first-quarter points, the fewest Stanford has scored in a quarter all season.
- Stanford's four first-quarter points tied the fewest allowed by USC (last vs. CSU Bakersfield) this season.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low halftime score of 19 points.
- USC held Stanford to a season-low 46 points, a season-low 30% (17-55) from the field and a season low 19% (4-21) from three.
- Stanford's 46 points marks the ninth time USC held an opponent under 50 points this season.
- Stanford's 46 points are the fewest it has scored in a game since January 24, 2016.
- For the seventh time this season USC never trailed during the game.
- USC's eight 3-pointers made were the most against a Pac-12 opponent this season.
- USC's 27%(15-55) from the field is the lowest in program history during a victory.
- USC completed their first home sweep of the Bay Area schools (California and Stanford) since the 2003-04 season.
- For the first time this season Stanford trailed behind USC for three quarters
- Today's 55-46 win was UCS's largest margin of victory over Stanford since a 67-55 home win on January 18, 1993.
- With one block, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 38 consecutive games played.
- With 18 pts GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the 13th time this season — it was her second straight game with a game-high 18 points.
- RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high of three 3-pointers made.
- GS Okako Adika earned her first double-double at USC with 11 pts and 11 rebounds (third career double-double).
BEATING THE BEARS
USC leapt into an early lead and stayed in control from wire to wire to collect a 63-43 Pac-12 victory over visiting California at Galen Center. Another double-double from Rayah Marshall helped anchor things, although the Trojans had plenty of help down the line to shore up the win. Marshall was closing in on a double-double by halftime, but it was some tough defense that was stealing the show for USC in the first half. The Trojans forced 18 first-half turnovers out of the Golden Bears en route to a 33-14 lead by the break. USC was shooting 39.4 percent in those first 20 minutes while Cal shot 27.3 percent. The Bears improved in the third quarter and finished out the game at 30 percent overall, although the Trojans kept clicking and wrapped the game at 38.6 percent on the offensive end. USC also won out on the boards 42-34. Destiny Littleton scored 14 points in the second half to finish as the game's top scorer with 18 points on the night, and Marshall tallied her ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Cal was paced by Evelien Lute Schipholt's 14 points.
NOTABLE:
- With one block, SO Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in 37 consecutive games played.
- With 17 pts and 11 rebounds, Marshall earns her ninth double-double this season and the 15th of her career.
- Marshall has now scored in double digits for seven straight games.
- With 18 points, GS Destiny Littleton scored in double digits for the 12th time this season.
- With eight points, SO Clarice Akunwafo set a new season high.
- Akunwafo also tied her career high of three blocks.
- With four rebounds, RS FR Taylor Bigby tied her career high.
- JR Koi Love tied a season-high with three steals.
- USC held its opponent to just 14 total points in the first half for the third time this season.
- Cal's six points scored in the first quarter and eight in the second quarter marked the 12th and 13th time this season that USC has allowed fewer than 10 points in a quarter.
- Allowing just six points in the first quarter, USC held California to a season low for points in a quarter.
- USC held its opponent to just 14 total points in the first half for the third time this season.
- USC held Cal to a season-low 43 points and a season-low 30% (18 of 60) from the field.
- USC won by double digits for the 10th time this season, its eighth win by 20 points or more.
- For the sixth time this season USC never trailed during the game.
TRANSFER TIME
USC grad transfers Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton have emerged as top impact players in their first season as Trojans. Sissoko and Littleton are averaging 15.3 and 12.0 points per game, respectively. Littleton has provided double digits in 12 games this season, and Sissoko has done so in 10 games before being sidelined temporarily by injury. Sissoko also has recorded three games with 20+ points.
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 eight of USC's last 10 games. She averaged 2.8 points per game in the first five games of the year, and has averaged 8.0 ppg in the last 11 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 has made an indelible mark with her 33-point outing in USC's win at Oregon State. Averaging 14.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game to date, she's collected nine double-doubles this season and is one of the nation's top blockers with her 3.0 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.
MID-YEAR MAGIC
USC's backcourt gets another boost with the addition of 5-9 guard Dominique Onu, who has come to Troy as a mid-year transfer from UCLA. After two seasons with the Bruins, the Florida native joined the Trojans in January 2023 and will compete for USC starting in Fall 2023. Ranked as the No. 26 recruit in the nation in 2021, Onu prepped at Blair Academy in New Jersey before signing on with UCLA, where she enrolled early as a true freshman in 2020-21. Onu played in 16 games as a freshman and in 27 with seven starts as a sophomore last season. She averaged 5.4 points per game in her sophomore season and set her career high with 16 points at Oregon. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Onu helped Blair Academy win the NJISAA State title as a junior in 2020, averaging 15.8 points per game that year.
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
