Saniyah Hall didn’t need long to make USC’s exhibition feel like a real introduction.
The freshman poured in 23 points and added six rebounds and five steals as No. 3 USC edged Cal 78-76 on Sunday afternoon at the Galen Center in Hall’s unofficial debut.
The Women of Troy also got 18 points apiece from JuJu Watkins and Jazzy Davidson, with Davidson piling up a game-high seven assists and six rebounds. Watkins chipped in three rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 23 minutes.
Watkins wasted no time making her return count after 580 days away from competition. She opened the scoring with a layup off a Kennedy Smith assist just 14 seconds into the game, and USC spent much of the first quarter trading punches with Cal before closing on an 8-2 run for a 14-10 lead. The Trojan defense made that opening frame tough on the Golden Bears, who shot 3-for-17 and missed all of their 3-point tries.
USC stretched the margin to 22-14 early in the second quarter, but Cal answered with an 11-2 burst and eventually grabbed the lead. Watkins stopped the bleeding with a step-back jumper in the closing seconds to knot the game at 33-33 at halftime. Davidson was the spark in the quarter, scoring eight points on 4-for-5 shooting.
After the break, Hall took over in stretches. She scored five points in the first 3:10 of the third quarter, then buried a 3-pointer at the 6:50 mark to put USC ahead 40-39. Davidson later knocked down a shot from deep to break a 46-46 tie, and Smith followed with Ryann Bennett on consecutive baskets to send the Trojans into the fourth up 55-51.
The lead grew to seven points twice in the final period, including 67-60 after Hall jumped a pass and converted in transition. She struck again moments later with another steal and fast-break basket, but Cal still had one more push, ripping off an 8-2 run to tie it 71-71 with 2:13 left.
Hall answered at the line, hitting two free throws with 1:54 to go. Laura Williams then delivered her third block of the game with 25 seconds left, and Smith finished a fast break off Davidson’s seventh assist to make it 75-71 USC. Davidson closed the door by making 3 of 4 free throws over the final 10 seconds.
Williams finished with four points, six rebounds and a game-high three blocks. Smith added six points, three assists and three steals, while Sitaya Fagan contributed four points and three rebounds off the bench.
USC’s official 2026-27 season opener comes one week from Monday in Las Vegas against UNLV at T-Mobile Arena. The Women of Troy and Lady Rebels meet on Monday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.
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