University Southern California Trojans
USC
10-7,2-4Big Ten
Maryland
17-2,5-2Big Ten
USC Women’s Basketball Edged 62–55 by No. 12 Maryland
January 15, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Kara Dunn posts 21 points as Trojans drop fourth straight Big Ten matchup.
USC now stands at 10–7 overall and 2-4 in conference play, while holding a 6–2 all-time advantage over Maryland.
The Trojans won the opening tip and rolled out a new look in the starting lineup, as redshirt sophomore Laura Williams made her first career collegiate start. Freshman Jazzy Davidson jump-started USC early, opening the scoring with a driving layup and contributing to the Women of Troy's first nine points of the game. Davidson scored seven points and assisted on a Williams layup during a two-minute stretch, helping USC take early control. Defensively, the Trojans were sharp in the opening quarter, holding the Terrapins to 16 points (tied for Maryland's second-fewest first quarter output this season), as USC carried a 20–16 lead after one.
In the second quarter, USC continued to attack the paint and went into halftime ahead 28–27. Davidson led all scorers at the break with 12 points, while the Trojans held an 18–14 advantage in paint points over the first 20 minutes.
The third quarter featured back-and-forth action, with neither team able to create separation. Senior Londynn Jones briefly swung momentum back to USC with a pull-up jumper that gave the Trojans a 32–31 edge midway through the period. The teams entered the fourth quarter locked in a one-possession game.
Maryland limited USC to 13 points in the final period and pulled away late at the free-throw line. Despite the loss, senior Kara Dunn delivered a strong closing effort, scoring 15 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter. Dunn finished the night with seven field goals, four three-pointers, five rebounds and five assists to lead USC.
The Women of Troy remain at home this weekend as the Trojans host Purdue on Sunday, Jan. 18 for a 2 p.m. PT matinee at the Galen Center. The game will air on Big Ten Plus.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- SR Kara Dunn scored a game-high 21 points, seven field goals and four three pointers. The guard also had five rebounds and five assists
- Tonight's game marks FR Jazzy Davidson's 17th straight game with one or more blocks, recording one against the Terrapins, and her 14th straight game scoring in double figures. She contributed five rebounds, five assists and a game-high three steals
- SO Vivian Iwuchukwu recorded a new season high matched her career high in rebounds with five
- JR Malia Samuels recorded a career and team-high two blocks
- Tonight's game marked R-FR Laura Williams' first collegiate start of her career
- Every Trojan that checked into tonight's game scored at least two points from the field
- SR Londynn Jones appeared in her 125th consecutive collegiate game this evening (108 at UCLA, 17 at USC)
QUOTES:
Lindsay Gottlieb | Head Coach
On team mentality after tonight's loss:
"With this group, figuring it out together and pulling people along and pushing on and holding us together is what it's all about. We've never lost sight of that. I've tried coming every day with the messages of really holding them accountable and saying where we are not good enough…and at the same time, building them up to know that we're capable of doing it."
Kara Dunn | Senior | Guard
On tonight's performance and team improvement:
"Outside of how the fourth quarter went with crucial plays not going the way we wanted them to, the way we came out and the way that we played today was 10 times better than it had been in the past games. I told everybody that I'm really proud of it. We need to keep it up. We just need to do a little bit more."
Malia Samuels | Junior | Guard
On stepping up with Kennedy Smith out:
"On the defensive end, Kennedy's a dog. She can guard one through five, so everyone has to guard a little bit harder. It's been tough without her, but I can't wait to have her back."
