USC Women’s Basketball Overwhelmed by No. 1 UConn in Lopsided Home Loss
With just seconds left in the first half, freshman guard Jazzy Davidson pushed the ball up the court, trying to carve out something-anything-positive before the break. But as her shot was swatted away by UConn’s Serah Williams and she scrambled on the floor to recover it, the scene summed up a night that never really belonged to USC.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, No. 1 UConn had put the finishing touches on a dominant 79-51 win at the Galen Center. And while the Trojans had hoped to use this marquee matchup as a measuring stick, the result left little doubt: there’s still a wide gap between where USC is and where it wants to be.
“It’s embarrassing to get beat on your home court,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said postgame. “We’re a team that’s still becoming who we’re going to be, and we’ll get better from this.”
A 24-2 Avalanche
USC actually held a brief 9-8 lead early in the first quarter, but that glimmer was quickly buried under a 24-2 UConn run that turned the game into a runaway before halftime. Even with a late push from sophomore guard Kennedy Smith, the Trojans never seriously threatened again.
This marks USC’s third straight loss to a ranked opponent, following setbacks against No. 3 South Carolina and No.
19 Notre Dame. And with JuJu Watkins-the team’s superstar junior guard-out for the season, the Trojans are still searching for an identity in her absence.
Gottlieb didn’t shy away from the challenge of their schedule, though.
“It’s not for the faint of heart, but that’s how we want it here,” she said. “We want to be the No. 1 team in the country. We want to get to be a national championship contender, and you don’t get there by shying away from that.”
Familiar Foes, Familiar Frustration
USC and UConn have plenty of recent history. The Huskies ended the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament runs in back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, including a 78-64 loss last March that came just days after Watkins tore her ACL.
USC did beat UConn in the regular season last year-thanks to a 25-point performance from Watkins-but without her, the Trojans are struggling to find a go-to scorer who can carry them in big moments. That absence was glaring Sunday.
“The No. 1 team in the country came in here today, and they’re really good,” Gottlieb said. “We competed, at times.
I’m proud of the fight that we had. But I thought our attention to detail wasn’t good enough.”
Smith and Jones Carry the Load
If there was a silver lining, it came from Kennedy Smith, who led USC with 16 points and seven rebounds. Her effort was relentless, even if the efficiency wasn’t quite there-she shot just 5-for-15 from the field and 1-for-6 from three.
Smith has been one of USC’s more experienced players, part of last year’s deep tournament run, and her leadership showed up even as the scoreboard tilted heavily toward the Huskies.
“The little things matter,” Smith said. “We’re about to go into Big Ten play soon, and the games are not going to get easier. We just really have to be more aggressive, be more mindful, be more intentional.”
Senior guard Londynn Jones added 14 points off the bench, drawing nine fouls and going 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. But like Smith, she struggled from the floor, hitting just three of her 10 shots and missing all six of her attempts from deep.
Davidson, USC’s breakout freshman and leading scorer this season, had a rough start. She went scoreless in the first quarter and finished the first half just 1-for-8 from the field. A couple of second-half threes helped her reach double figures-maintaining her streak of scoring at least 10 points in all but one game this season-but her early struggles helped UConn seize control.
Still, Davidson made her presence felt on defense. She recorded four blocks and continues to establish herself as one of the top shot-blocking guards in the country, currently ranking tied for 11th nationally at 2.5 per game.
UConn’s Azzi Fudd, who led all scorers with 17 points on an efficient 6-for-11 shooting night, said she took the assignment of guarding Davidson seriously. That kind of defensive attention is a sign of respect-and also a challenge that Davidson will have to grow through.
“She takes it on like a competitor,” Gottlieb said. “She’s only going to get better from having these experiences this early in her career.”
Frontcourt Struggles and Turnover Woes
USC’s frontcourt rotation-Gerda Raulušaityte, Vivian Iwuchukwu, and Dayana Mendes-combined for just two points on five total shots. The Trojans were outmuscled in the paint and outrebounded 41-33. UConn’s Sarah Strong and Serah Williams both grabbed at least seven boards and found success around the rim, particularly in the first half.
Strong finished with 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting, and she was one of four Huskies to score in double figures, alongside Fudd, Blanca Quiñonez, and Ashlynn Shade.
The Trojans also turned the ball over 20 times, which led directly to 26 UConn points. That kind of sloppiness is hard to overcome against any team-let alone the top-ranked squad in the country.
“They’re a pressure team,” Gottlieb said. “When we’re comfortable, we’re really good offensively. When we’re sped up, it gets harder.”
Looking Ahead
USC now turns its attention to a non-conference matchup against Cal Poly, a game the Trojans are expected to win. But with Big Ten play looming, the margin for error is shrinking. The road to contention is never easy, and this stretch has made that abundantly clear.
The talent is there. The effort is there. But if USC wants to be more than just a team with potential, it’ll need to tighten the details, find offensive consistency, and grow up fast in a conference that won’t wait around for anyone.