No. 21 USC Women’s Basketball Comes Up Short Against Oregon

Tuesday, January 6

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

USC

10-5,2-2Big Ten

Oregon

14-3,2-2Big Ten

Oregon

Southern California

Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics

No. 21 USC Women’s Basketball Comes Up Short Against Oregon

January 06, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Press Conference

The Trojans fall 71-66 to the Ducks.

LOS ANGELES - No. 21 USC women's basketball built a commanding early lead but fell 71–66 to Oregon on Tuesday night at the Galen Center.

With the loss, USC drops to 2-2 in conference play and 10-5 on the season.

The Trojans won the opening tip and set the tone early, with redshirt freshman Laura Williams scoring USC's first points on a layup. Junior Malia Samuels followed with a three-pointer to give USC its first lead of the game at 7–6.
USC poured in 23 first-quarter points, marking its second-highest opening-quarter output this season, and closed the period on a decisive 16–0 run over the final 3:04. Senior Kara Dunn fueled the surge, scoring a game-high 12 points in the opening quarter to give the Trojans a 23–9 advantage.

USC continued to control the tempo in the second quarter. Freshman Jazzy Davidson opened the scoring with a layup to extend the lead to 25–13, while Dunn finished the half with a game-high 14 points. The Trojans dominated the stat sheet in the first half, leading Oregon in fast-break points (9–0), points in the paint (16–8) and second-chance points (14–5), while also outrebounding the Ducks 26–20 to take a 37–21 lead into halftime.

Senior Londynn Jones opened the second half with a driving layup, and Dunn remained efficient in the third quarter, scoring a team-high seven points while going a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Despite USC's steady production, Oregon trimmed the deficit heading into the fourth as the Ducks outscored the Trojans 24-21 during the third frame of play.

Jones briefly regained momentum for the Trojans in the final quarter, completing a three-point play before knocking down a three-pointer on the next possession to push USC's lead to 64–57. Oregon, however, closed the game on a late surge, outscoring USC down the stretch to secure the 71–66 decision.

Dunn led all scorers with 21 points while adding a season-high nine rebounds and five made free throws. Freshman Davidson recorded her third career double-double with 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. She also dished out a team-high five assists and added two blocks.

Williams posted a career-high nine rebounds and a team-best plus-six rating, while Jones finished with 13 points, a season-high five rebounds and three assists. USC shot a season-best 85.7 percent from the free-throw line (12-for-14).

The loss marks USC's first back-to-back losses since January 2024 and moves the Trojans to 49–31 all-time against Oregon.

Next up, No. 21 USC hits the road for a Sunday matchup against Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 11 at noon PT.

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- Tonight's game marks FR Jazzy Davidson's 15th straight game with 1+ blocks and her 12th straight game scoring in double figures
- With 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds, Davidson tallied her third career double-double. The guard also contributed a team-high five assists and two blocks
- R-FR Laura Williams recorded a career-high nine rebounds and a team-high +6 rating
- SR Kara Dunn recorded a new season high with nine rebounds and five made free throws. She also scored a game-high 21 points, matching her season high
- SR Londynn Jones recorded a season-high five rebounds. She also posted 13 points and three assists
- USC's 85.7% (12-for-14) free-throw average was a season best
- Tonight marks USC's first back-to-back losses since Jan. 19, 2024, at Utah followed by Jan. 21, 2024, at Colorado
- The Trojans are now 49-31 all-time against the Ducks

QUOTES:
Lindsay Gottlieb | Head Coach

On immediate reaction to loss:
"I think we have a lot of potential to be really good, but not if we don't figure some things out. The way we approach starts of quarters, starts of halves, games and shootarounds. Obviously, I'm wildly disappointed. I respect and trust our players enough to say that to their face and fight to get better."

Londynn Jones | Senior | Guard

On being a leader for the team:
"I think one way of leading for us is leading by example. I think we can just start doing the things that are being asked and buying into what's being asked and trying to lead in that way. I think also using our voice as we are the more experienced ones on the team. Just being as vocal as we can for Coach Lindsay when she needs it and just getting everyone together. Those are a couple ways that we can start getting things together and making a change."

Kara Dunn | Senior | Guard

On mindset after a loss:
"Coach Lindsay was telling us to start the game, we were a little bit hungrier but then we immediately sat back and were casual in the second half. You can't be, especially coming off a loss. We need to be as hungry as we can be. Going into the next game, we have to have a change in heart, change in mind and get after it."