After a rough stretch that saw USC women’s basketball drop six of seven games, the Trojans roared back in a big way Thursday night, notching a statement 81-69 win over No. 8 Iowa.
It wasn’t just a bounce-back - it was a breakthrough. This marked USC’s first win over the Hawkeyes since 1984, and it snapped Iowa’s eight-game winning streak in the process.
For a team that’s been searching for momentum, this one hit different.
And they did it without junior guard Malia Samuels, who was sidelined due to an undisclosed injury. But even with a key piece missing, USC found its rhythm behind standout performances from senior guard Kara Dunn, freshman phenom Jazzy Davidson, and senior leader Londynn Jones.
The win moved USC to 13-9 overall and 5-6 in Big Ten play, and marked their second top-10 victory of the season - the first as an unranked squad since 2023. It also added a fourth Top 25 win to their résumé.
“We really felt like we needed this win,” Davidson said postgame. “The team morale is really good right now, despite the losses.”
Setting the Tone Early
USC didn’t waste any time asserting themselves. The Trojans opened the game with a 10-0 run, holding Iowa to just two points in the early going.
Davidson and Jones were at the heart of the surge, setting the tone with confident shot-making and aggressive defense. By the end of the first quarter, USC had built a 28-13 lead, fueled by five made threes and a relentless defensive effort that forced seven Iowa turnovers - which USC turned into nine points.
Kara Dunn was once again the engine. The senior poured in 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting, knocked down six of her nine free throws, and grabbed 12 rebounds for her fifth career double-double. It was her seventh straight game scoring 20 or more, and in the process, she surpassed 1,500 career points - a major milestone that speaks to her consistency and leadership.
“To be in a Trojan uniform, it means everything to me,” Dunn said. “Going into the transfer portal, I wanted to find a coach who believed in me, and Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] has given me all that and more.”
Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson wasn’t far behind. She dropped 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting and dished out a team-high eight assists.
She opened the game with a three-pointer and never looked back, hitting timely mid-range jumpers that halted Iowa runs and kept USC in control. Her poise continues to belie her age.
Kennedy Smith Steps Up
Sophomore guard Kennedy Smith also delivered a much-needed bounce-back performance. After a tough road trip in Michigan that saw her commit a career-high eight turnovers, Smith tightened things up.
She had just two turnovers against Iowa, scored 12 points on 6-of-16 shooting, and came alive in the second half with 10 of those points. Her outside shot still wasn’t falling - she missed both of her three-point attempts - but her ability to attack the rim and finish through contact gave USC another offensive dimension.
“Kennedy’s second-half performance today was incredibly important for us,” Gottlieb said. “The offense is designed for players to make the right read, and if the right read is for Ken to go to the rim, she’s going to go to the rim.”
Defensive Game Plan Pays Off
USC came in with a clear defensive strategy: pressure the guards and make life tough for Iowa’s post players. The Trojans executed that plan with discipline and intensity, particularly in the paint.
Smith and Davidson led the charge defensively, helping USC limit Iowa’s inside game and force them into contested perimeter shots. Iowa hit six threes in the first half, but Gottlieb made sure that didn’t continue.
“I really got on [the team] about the six made 3s for Iowa in the first half, and we held them to one in the second,” Gottlieb said. “I knew they couldn’t do both.”
That second-half adjustment helped USC maintain control even as Iowa made a push. The Hawkeyes trimmed the lead to three after halftime with a 6-0 run, but a key layup and free throw from sophomore forward Vivian Iwuchukwu halted the momentum and gave USC the breathing room it needed.
Finishing Strong
One of USC’s biggest issues during their recent skid was closing games. That wasn’t the case here.
The Trojans stayed composed, executed down the stretch, and outscored Iowa 38-34 in the second half. They shot 50% from three after the break, pulled down 16 rebounds, and committed just five turnovers - their lowest total of the season.
Those five turnovers turned into 19 points off Iowa mistakes, showcasing USC’s ability to convert defense into offense.
Jones added 17 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting night, including three made threes. Her steady presence on both ends of the court helped USC keep the pace and maintain their lead even as Iowa tried to mount a comeback.
Forward Rotation Still in Flux
While the backcourt carried the load, the forward rotation remains a work in progress. Iwuchukwu got the start and logged 17 minutes before exiting early in the fourth quarter with an injury.
She finished with three points and four rebounds. Junior forward Gerda Raulušaityte played the rest of the way but didn’t score and grabbed just three rebounds.
Neither made a major impact statistically, but the Trojans didn’t need it - their guard play was that good.
Still, the forward battle is something to watch as USC continues through conference play. With Iwuchukwu’s status uncertain and Raulušaityte still finding her rhythm, the Trojans will need more consistency from the frontcourt to complement their talented perimeter players.
Back on Track
USC followed up the Iowa win with a dominant 71-39 victory over Rutgers at the Galen Center on Sunday, showing no signs of a letdown. Now sitting at 13-9, the Trojans will travel to Evanston to face Northwestern on Thursday night. If this version of USC - the one that plays with energy, shares the ball, and defends with purpose - shows up again, they could be a tough out for anyone in the Big Ten.
“They were just tremendous,” Gottlieb said. “I believe we are a better basketball team now than we were then, and now we just got to keep showing it on the scoreboard.”
The message is clear: USC isn’t just trying to stop the bleeding - they’re aiming to make noise.