USC Dominates Cal Poly Behind Career Night from Londynn Jones, Lockdown Defense
LOS ANGELES - USC closed out its non-conference home slate with a statement win, rolling past Cal Poly 86-39 on Thursday night at the Galen Center. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone what this team is capable of when it locks in - especially on the defensive end.
Let’s start with the star of the night: senior guard Londynn Jones. She was electric from the jump, finishing with a career-high 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting.
Five of those buckets came from beyond the arc, and they weren’t just catch-and-shoot threes - Jones was creating, pulling up in transition, and making it look easy. Her energy set the tone, and her scoring flurries at the end of the first and second quarters helped USC build a lead they never looked back from.
Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson added 17 points and nine boards, but her impact went beyond the box score. She was everywhere defensively, racking up a career-high six steals and helping USC turn defense into offense all night long.
When Davidson is flying around like that, it lifts the entire team’s intensity. Transfer guard Kara Dunn chipped in 12 points, bouncing back nicely after a couple of quieter outings.
For Cal Poly, this was always going to be an uphill battle. The Mustangs were without their top two scorers - Vanessa McManus and Charish Thompson - and it showed. Missing 34.9 points per game in production, the Mustangs struggled to keep pace, especially once USC’s defense kicked into gear.
The Women of Troy came out hot, hitting five of their first seven shots and jumping out to a 13-3 lead. Jones took over late in the first quarter, scoring eight of USC’s final 12 points to give her team a 15-point cushion. She opened the second quarter with a heads-up steal and transition layup, and by halftime, USC led by 22.
But the real turning point came after the break.
USC didn’t just protect its lead - it buried Cal Poly with a suffocating third quarter. The Trojans opened the second half on a 22-2 run, holding the Mustangs without a field goal for more than six minutes.
Cal Poly managed just five points in the quarter and attempted only eight shots, connecting on just one. USC forced 10 turnovers in the third alone, many of them coming from relentless full-court pressure that never let the Mustangs settle in.
“We felt like we could be even better coming out of halftime,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said postgame. “Even with the lead, we wanted to play to our standard - and I thought we did that, especially in the third quarter.”
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, USC had already built a 40-point lead and wasn’t done. They opened the final frame with six straight points and stretched the margin to as many as 50 before the final buzzer.
The bench played a big role in the blowout, contributing 45 points. Second-year freshman Laura Williams had a breakout performance, setting career highs in points (8), rebounds (5), and blocks (3) in just 12 minutes.
Forward Yakiya Milton, a transfer from Auburn, added six points, eight rebounds, and four blocks - all in just 10 minutes of action. That kind of frontcourt production off the bench is a huge plus for a team still working to find consistent interior scoring.
Player of the Game: Londynn Jones
Jones was the engine behind USC’s offensive explosion. She shot 11-of-16 from the field, went 5-of-8 from deep, and added four steals and a block for good measure. Her ability to heat up quickly and carry the scoring load gives USC a dynamic weapon as they head into Pac-12 play.
“It feels good,” Jones said after the game. “We’re starting to figure it out and put the pieces together.
Coach Lindsay emphasizes game-like reps every time, and it’s really translating. The team does a great job finding the open person.”
Turning Point: The Third Quarter Lockdown
USC could’ve coasted after building a 22-point halftime lead. Instead, they turned up the pressure and delivered a defensive clinic.
The Trojans outscored Cal Poly 26-5 in the third, forcing 10 turnovers and holding the Mustangs to a single made field goal. That stretch turned a comfortable lead into a full-on rout.
Key Stat: 27 Turnovers into 39 Points
The Trojans forced 27 turnovers and turned them into 39 points - exactly matching Cal Poly’s total for the night. That kind of defensive efficiency, paired with just seven turnovers of their own, tells the story of a team that was locked in on both ends.
USC also recorded 15 steals, with Davidson leading the way with six. The transition game was humming, and the Women of Troy made sure every mistake by Cal Poly came at a cost.
What It Means
This was more than just a bounce-back win - it was a statement about how this team responds to adversity. After a rough outing in their last Galen Center appearance, the Trojans came out with energy, focus, and the kind of defensive intensity that travels well. Yes, Cal Poly was shorthanded, but USC didn’t let up or play down to the competition.
This team is still coming together - the chemistry is building, and the offense is gradually finding its rhythm. Ball movement can still improve, but the pieces are there. And when the defense is this disruptive, it gives the offense plenty of margin for error.
What’s Next
Both teams are headed toward a matchup with California. USC travels north to take on the Golden Bears at Chase Center in San Francisco this **Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
PST** as part of the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic. Cal Poly returns home before heading to Berkeley for their own shot at Cal on **Dec.
28**.
If USC brings the same defensive energy to the Bay Area, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone.