No. 17 Trojans Travel to No. 20 Nebraska for Ranked Big Ten Showdown

Monday, December 29

Lincoln, Neb.

12:00 p.m.

USC

Nebraska

Kennedy Smith brings the ball down the court.

Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics

No. 17 Trojans Travel to No. 20 Nebraska for Ranked Big Ten Showdown

December 27, 2025 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes

USC women’s basketball resumes conference play against the Cornhuskers.

LOS ANGELES - After opening Big Ten Conference play with a win over No. 21 Washington on Dec. 7, the No. 17 Trojans resume conference competition this week against No. 20 Nebraska on Monday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. CT at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. USC will play its second road game of the season this week as the Women of Troy face their sixth AP Top-25 opponent of the season.

The Trojans are fresh off a gutsy 61-57 victory over Cal at the 2025 Invisalign Bay Area Women's Classic and look to keep the momentum going on Monday evening.

SERIES RECORD: 4-5
LAST MEETING: W, 75-55 (January 1, 2025) • Los Angeles, Calif. // Galen Center
HEAD COACH: Amy Williams (10th Season at Nebraska (170-123); 19th Season Overall (363-232)
CONFERENCE: Big Ten Conference
STREAK: W, 1-0
TV/STREAM: Big Ten Plus
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App

A WIN WOULD

Be the 886th win in program history (885-569)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 103rd win at USC (102-39)
Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb's 337th win as a head coach (336-167)
Help USC improve to 2-0 in Big Ten Play
Be USC's third ranked win of the season (2-3 currently against ranked opponents)
Be USC's 5th win over Nebraska and bring the all-time record between the two programs to 5-5.
Mark the second straight year the Trojans open Big Ten play 2-0 or better.
Snap Nebraska's undefeated streak (12-0 this season)

SCOUTING NEBRASKA

The Cornhuskers are ranked No. 20 in the most recent AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.
Nebraska has scored at least 80 points in each of its 12 games to open 2025-26, including three 100-point scoring efforts.
Nebraska is one of just three remaining NCAA Division I schools with undefeated men's and women's basketball programs.
As a team, NU ranks 10th nationally in scoring offense (89.6 ppg), while ranking fourth in field goal percentage (.522) and 11th in scoring margin (32.9 ppg).
NU ranks eighth in assists per game (21.3 apg) and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.73).

USC VS. NEBRASKA SERIES HISTORY

USC and Nebraska are 4-5 all-time
Last year, the Trojans snapped the Big Red's five-game series winning streak with a 75-55 win on New Year's Day 2025 at the Galen Center. So. JuJu Watkins led the No. 4 Trojans with a game-high 26 points while drawing 12 fouls. Kiki Iriafen added 14 points. Logan Nissley led Nebraska with 14 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting, while Britt Prince added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The first meeting between the schools came with a 72-70 USC win in Los Angeles on Jan. 12, 1977.
Monday's game will mark the fifth time USC has faced the Huskers as a ranked team, while it will be the fourth time the Huskers have been ranked at the tip. It will be the second time both teams were ranked in the top 25 at game time, joining the 1993 NCAA Tournament matchup.

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

As a squad, USC is fourth nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (7.0)
As a squad, USC is 27th nationally in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 54.2 ppg on average.
FR Jazzy Davidson currently leads the Trojans in every major statistical category (16.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.0 spg and 2.5 bpg). Davidson is the only player amongst power four conference players to lead a squad in all five major categories.
The freshman also leads USC in minutes played, averaging 32.7
Davidson has recorded 11 double-figuring scoring games this season, including nine straight games since Nov. 18
Davidson ranks 11th nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks (30). Standing at 6'1", she is also the shortest in the top-15 with such numbers. The freshman is 11th nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.50).
Davidson is 2nd in the Big Ten and 19th nationally in field goal attempts (199). She is also 3rd amongst all D1 freshman in field goal attempts (199).
SO Kennedy Smith ranks 24th nationally and is tied for 7th in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio at 2.80 (42-15)
SR Londynn Jones has led USC in scoring during four games this season, coming off the bench in each of those four outtings.
USC has played just 1 road game this season, having faced Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. All of USC's other games up to this point have been played at either the Galen Center (7-1) or at neutral sites (2-1).
The Trojans are holding opponents to just 54.3 on 35.3 percent shooting despite playing five top-25 teams through 12 games.

LAST TIME OUT

USC notched its 45th win over California at the Invisalign Bay Area Women's Classic, beating the Golden Bears 61-57 in the 80th all-time meeting between the former conference foes.
Despite a season high 24 fouls, including two foul-outs, the Trojans managed to grind out the gritty win and close out nonconference play 8-3.
FR Jazzy Davidson scored a career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.
SR Kara Dunn tallied 15 points and tied with JR Gerda Raulušaityte for a team-high six rebounds
SO Kennedy Smith contributed 11 points, two assists and two steals
USC restricted California to one made three pointer (nine percent 3PT FG)

B1G OPENER

The Women of Troy erased an early deficit to beat No. 21 Washington 59-50 on Dec. 7 and improve to 1-0 in Big Ten play
USC recorded a season-high 50 rebounds. The Trojans also led the Huskies in bench points (19-6), paint points (30-24) and fast break points (12-7)
FR Jazzy Davidson notched her second career double-double with a career and game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
JR Gerda Raulušaityte scored a career-high eight points. The forward also had eight rebounds, shot 100% from the field and had a game-high +15 rating
SO Kennedy Smith tallied 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and team-high two steals

NONCONFERENCE RECAP

USC wrapped up nonconference play 8-3, including one win over a ranked opponent (No. 9 NC State). The Trojans three losses were to No. 1 UConn, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 24 Notre Dame (2 point margin of defeat).
The Trojans averaged 71.7 ppg in nonconference play.
USC defeated Cal 61-57 to close out nonconference play 8-3
The Women of Troy finished nonconference play 6-1 at home, 2-1 at neutral sites and 0-1 on the road.
FR Jazzy Davidson led the Trojans in every statistical category in nonconference play - 16.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.2 spg, 2.5 bpg and 32:2 mpg.
SR Londynn Jones scored a career and game-high 28 points and 11 made field goals against Cal Poly.
FR Jazzy Davidson scored a career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.
SO Kennedy Smith led USC in points (16) and rebounds (7) against No. 1 UConn. Smith also led USC in scoring against No. 2 South Carolina (12)

DAVIDSON'S DOMINANCE

ESPN named Davidson No. 1 in the Dec. 18 women's college basketball freshman impact rankings (Davidson was also No. 1 preseason)
Davidson currently leads the Trojans in every major statistical categories (16.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.0 spg and 2.4 bpg)
Davidson has recorded ten double figure scoring games this season (seven straight games)
The newcomer put up 14 points (second leading scorer), had five rebounds, four assists, 1 steal and 1 block in her collegiate debut
Against NC State, Davidson put up 21 points, had five blocks, four assists, three steals and was perfect from the free throw line (2-2). Davidson delivered the winning basket in USC's victory over NC State as the freshman made a fast break driving layup with 8 seconds remaining in the game.
Davidson posted a breakthrough performance versus Tennessee Tech, recording her first double-double as she finished with 20 points (9-of-14 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 boards not only led all players but also marked the most by a USC freshman since Rayah Marshall's performance against Texas Southern on Dec. 18, 2021. Davidson also chipped in four assists and two blocks to round out the effort.
Davidson stayed hot on Nov. 28, tallying 18 points along with four rebounds, five assists, and a game-high three blocks in the win over Pepperdine.
Against Washington, Davidson notched her second career double-double with a game-high 22 points and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard also contributed four assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers.
Against Cal, Davidson scored a career-high 24 points with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring performance and her 12th of the season, adding four rebounds, four blocks and matching her career best with three three-pointers.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT DAVIDSON

"She plays well with the ball in her hands, and she makes good decisions, she makes great shots. Just a high-level player. Like, a really high-level player that doesn't really play like a freshman." - South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley
"Jazzy Davidson has no weaknesses in her game and she's just a freshman. USC has another superstar." - NFL Network/SI.com, Kendell Hollowell
"Jazzy Davidson was the No. 1 overall recruit for a reason. She can do everything. An instant star for USC." - NFL Network/SI.com, Kendell Hollowell
"It was a big night for freshman Jazzy Davidson, who's currently my frontrunner for NFOY." - On3 reporter Talia Goodman after USC defeated Washington
"She's probably the best freshman in the country at this point based on what has happend on the court, not the hype part." - UConn head coach Geno Auriemma

JONES OFF THE BENCH

Appearing in her first ever game as a Trojan, UCLA transfer Londynn Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points off the bench. The senior came off the bench for 18 minutes and had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. She was also 4-4 from the charity stripe.
Making her Trojan debut, UCLA senior transfer Londynn Jones has been an offensive powerhouse for USC off the bench. Against New Mexico State, Jones led USC in scoring, putting up 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. On Sunday, Jones' 19 points off the bench were crucial in USC's 69-68 victory over No. 9 NC State. The senior also had three rebounds and three assists.
Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a career high 28 points, while also contributing 2 rebounds and four steals in just 23 minutes played.
Through 12 games (11 coming off the bench), Jones averages 12.4 points, 1.6 RBG and 1.8 APG in 22.7 minutes/game (avg).
The senior got her first start as a Trojan against Pepperdine on Nov. 28, recording six points, five assists and one rebound. Against Saint Mary's, Jones put up a team-high 17 points.
Against Cal Poly, Jones posted a career-high 28 points, while also contributing four steals and two rebounds.

SIGNING DAY SUCCESS
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, USC women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb announced the signing of Saniyah Halland Sitaya Fagan, two of the most nationally renowned prospects in the Class of 2026. Hall, the No. 1ranked recruit in the country, and Fagan, a five-star international standout from Australia, further elevate a USC program already rising among the top tiers of women's college basketball.

Hall becomes USC's third No. 1 ranked recruit in four years, continuing the program's unprecedented run of elite recruiting success.

Most recently, Fagan won the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup with Australia, also being named the MVP of the Tournament. The incoming Trojan was named Basketball Victoria's (Centre of Excellence) 2025 Female Junior Athlete of the Year, a significant award recognizing her breakout year.