University Southern California Trojans
Sunday, January 11
Minneapolis, Minn.
12:00 p.m.
USC
10-6,2-3Big Ten
62
at
63
Minnesota
12-4,3-2Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Southern California
10
24
14
14
62
Minnesota
18
12
16
17
63
Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics
No. 21 USC Women's Basketball Narrowly Falls 63-62 to Minnesota
January 11, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Kara Dunn and Jazzy Davidson combine for 48 points.
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 21 USC came up short Sunday afternoon, falling 63–62 to Minnesota at Williams Arena in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup. With the loss, the Trojans drop to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play.
The Gophers controlled the early momentum, winning the opening tip and scoring the first 10 points of the game. USC didn't get on the board until the 5:34 mark of the first quarter when senior Londynn Jones finished a driving layup. Junior Malia Samuels helped stabilize the Trojans early, scoring a team-high six points in the opening quarter and knocking down two three-pointers to match her season high, but USC trailed 18–10 after one.
USC flipped the script in the second quarter behind a dominant stretch from freshman Jazzy Davidson. Davidson hit back-to-back threes to pull USC within 23–16, then sparked a surge that included triples from Jones and sophomore Dayana Medes to trim the deficit to one. Davidson gave the Trojans their first lead of the game at the 5:52 mark with her third three of the quarter, and USC followed with a decisive 19–0 run to build a 32–23 advantage. Davidson poured in a game-high 15 points in the period on near-perfect shooting, while senior Kara Dunn matched her season high with three steals in the first half. USC took a 34–30 lead into the break.
Minnesota responded in the third, but Dunn kept USC in front. The senior guard scored eight points in the quarter, including a clutch three in the final minute that pushed the Trojans back ahead, 48–46, entering the fourth.
The final period saw multiple lead changes and tight possessions down the stretch. Dunn opened the quarter with a layup to tie the game at 50–50 and later completed a three-point play to cut the deficit to 56–53. Despite USC shooting efficiently from deep, Minnesota capitalized late at the free-throw line and edged ahead in the closing seconds to secure the one-point win.
USC finished with season-best marks from beyond the arc, making 14 three-pointers and shooting 45.2 percent from long range. Dunn led all scorers with a season-high 27 points, setting new season highs in made field goals (10) and three-pointers (five) while recording a career-high six steals. Davidson added another strong all-around performance, extending her streak 13 consecutive double-figure scoring efforts. She also recorded a career-high five made three-pointers.
The loss marks USC's first three-game losing streak since the 2021–22 season. The Trojans are now 2–2 all-time against Minnesota.
Up next, USC returns home to host No. 8 Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Galen Center.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- USC'S 14 made three-pointers and 45.2% three-point average were a season-best
- SR Kara Dunn scored a season-high 27 points, 10 made field goals, and five made three pointers. The guard also recorded a career-high six steals
- This match marks FR Jazzy Davidson's 16th straight game with one or more blocks, recording two against the Gophers, and her 13th straight game scoring in double figures. The guard also made a career-high five three-pointers
- JR Malia Samuels matched her season high in made three-pointers with two in the first quarter and posted a team-high +8 rating. She also contributed a game-high six assists
- This is USC's first time with at least three consecutive losses since the 2021-22 season (1/20 @ UCLA, 1/23 vs. UCLA, 1/28 @ Oregon State)
- USC is now 2-2 all-time against Minnesota
The Gophers controlled the early momentum, winning the opening tip and scoring the first 10 points of the game. USC didn't get on the board until the 5:34 mark of the first quarter when senior Londynn Jones finished a driving layup. Junior Malia Samuels helped stabilize the Trojans early, scoring a team-high six points in the opening quarter and knocking down two three-pointers to match her season high, but USC trailed 18–10 after one.
USC flipped the script in the second quarter behind a dominant stretch from freshman Jazzy Davidson. Davidson hit back-to-back threes to pull USC within 23–16, then sparked a surge that included triples from Jones and sophomore Dayana Medes to trim the deficit to one. Davidson gave the Trojans their first lead of the game at the 5:52 mark with her third three of the quarter, and USC followed with a decisive 19–0 run to build a 32–23 advantage. Davidson poured in a game-high 15 points in the period on near-perfect shooting, while senior Kara Dunn matched her season high with three steals in the first half. USC took a 34–30 lead into the break.
Minnesota responded in the third, but Dunn kept USC in front. The senior guard scored eight points in the quarter, including a clutch three in the final minute that pushed the Trojans back ahead, 48–46, entering the fourth.
The final period saw multiple lead changes and tight possessions down the stretch. Dunn opened the quarter with a layup to tie the game at 50–50 and later completed a three-point play to cut the deficit to 56–53. Despite USC shooting efficiently from deep, Minnesota capitalized late at the free-throw line and edged ahead in the closing seconds to secure the one-point win.
USC finished with season-best marks from beyond the arc, making 14 three-pointers and shooting 45.2 percent from long range. Dunn led all scorers with a season-high 27 points, setting new season highs in made field goals (10) and three-pointers (five) while recording a career-high six steals. Davidson added another strong all-around performance, extending her streak 13 consecutive double-figure scoring efforts. She also recorded a career-high five made three-pointers.
The loss marks USC's first three-game losing streak since the 2021–22 season. The Trojans are now 2–2 all-time against Minnesota.
Up next, USC returns home to host No. 8 Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Galen Center.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- USC'S 14 made three-pointers and 45.2% three-point average were a season-best
- SR Kara Dunn scored a season-high 27 points, 10 made field goals, and five made three pointers. The guard also recorded a career-high six steals
- This match marks FR Jazzy Davidson's 16th straight game with one or more blocks, recording two against the Gophers, and her 13th straight game scoring in double figures. The guard also made a career-high five three-pointers
- JR Malia Samuels matched her season high in made three-pointers with two in the first quarter and posted a team-high +8 rating. She also contributed a game-high six assists
- This is USC's first time with at least three consecutive losses since the 2021-22 season (1/20 @ UCLA, 1/23 vs. UCLA, 1/28 @ Oregon State)
- USC is now 2-2 all-time against Minnesota
Team Stats
USC
MINN
FG%
.440
.369
3FG%
.452
.278
FT%
.800
.588
RB
32
40
TO
17
9
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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