LOS ANGELES — The USC women’s basketball team has just one more game until Big Ten Conference play begins, and the Trojans look ready.
They beat Pepperdine 82-52 on Friday afternoon behind a dominant defensive performance. It’s the third-fewest points USC (5-2) has given up this season.
Kara Dunn had a team-high 19 points on 80% shooting and freshman Jazzy Davidson followed with 18 points. Kennedy Smith added nine points and dished out a team-high seven assists.
Pepperdine’s Elli Guiney scored 12 points and had six assists. Meghan Fiso reached 11 points and Bella Green was the team’s top rebounder with nine boards.
The Trojans, who are coming off a season-best 15 blocks against Tennessee Tech, recorded eight blocks against the Waves. They went into the game leading the conference in blocks and ranked 11th in the nation in that category.
Davidson reached up to knock down the ball at the buzzer to finish off a first half that was defensively strong all around for the entire team.
USC separated itself midway through the first quarter. The Trojans were actively boxing out the Waves (4-2), allowing Davidson to step in for a steal. Kara Dunn blocked a shot on Pepperdine’s next possession to keep the ball in the Trojans’ hands.
Meanwhile, the offense was putting together a 15-2 scoring run that allowed USC to close out the opening quarter with a 21-10 advantage.
Davidson opened the second frame with a 3-pointer and went on to finish the game 50% from beyond the arc. She struggled at times with free throws but managed to make five out of eight attempts.
The Trujans thrived in the physicality as the Waves pushed for one-on-one pressure. Dunn pivoted for a turnaround jumper with a defender up against her and roughly a minute later, Vivian Uwichukwu drew a foul on a jump shot and made the and-one basket after to extend USC’s lead to 29-10.
The Trojans began double-teaming Pepperdine’s 6-foot Australian guard Bella Greene, who had a team-high five rebounds by halftime, and held the Waves to 26 points in the first half.
Sophomore guard Rian Forestier was subbed into the game for Kara Dunn in the third quarter and logged a season-high 12 minutes. She hit two 3-pointers.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb continued to bring in less experienced players throughout the final quarter. Sophomore Brooklyn Shamblin entered with 7:18 remaining, alongside 6-foot-5 forward and Auburn transfer Yakiya Milton.
Pepperdine shot 48.1% in the second half for 35 points against the Trojans, who were the Waves’ first Power Four opponent of the season.
USC hosts Saint Mary’s for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday before beginning Big Ten play against Washington on the following Sunday at 5 p.m.
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