In front of 14,735 fans and a host of WNBA scouts, USC rallied against an undefeated Maryland team to improve its record to 15-1 and extend its winning streak to 11.
Even though USC graduate guard Talia Von Oelhoffen sat out with an injury, this top-10 matchup delivered on the hype. It was an intense back-and-forth game, with both teams locked in a defensive battle that included countless lead changes. However, USC came out on top and secured the 79-74 victory.
Maryland came out ready to steamroll USC on both sides of the ball. The Terps were smothering star sophomore guard JuJu Watkins, forcing her to take tough shots and make mistakes.
Watkins typically averages under three turnovers a game, but Maryland’s defensive pressure forced her into four turnovers in the first half alone.
Despite Watkins’ early struggles, freshman guard Kayleigh Heckel got in her offensive bag in the first half. Toward the end of the first quarter, USC was down 7-16. Heckel came off the bench and made crucial baskets, scoring seven points in under 3 minutes, putting USC just behind Maryland 18-20.
USC improved its play during the second quarter. The Trojans were playing a tighter offense and only added two more turnovers to the six they had in the first quarter. While the offense improved, USC was not playing its best, shooting under 40% at the end of the first half. Additionally, the Trojans had zero fast-break points, stunting their offensive momentum.
Luckily for the Trojans, Maryland wasn’t doing a whole lot better, they were also shooting under 40% and only scoring five fast-break points.
The problem for USC was containing senior guard Shyanne Sellers. She continually created offensive production for her team with good finishes and multiple trips to the line. Sellers brought the intensity for her team and went nearly perfect (10-for-11) from the free-throw line. She ended up finishing with 26 points.
The Terps’ leading scorer, junior guard Kaylene Smikle, finally woke up from her slump and scored her first points of the game during the third quarter. She came back with vengeance though, scoring 12 during the third and finishing with 16.
When one player would hit a huge shot, the other team would immediately respond.
At the end of the third quarter, in clutch Heckel fashion, she drew a foul and made both of her free throws to tie the game 58-58 leading into the last frame.
“We have this unwavering confidence in ourselves,” Watkins said postgame. “It was just a matter of coming together and closing the game out.”
Sellers initially took over for the Terps and was doing everything she could to keep them in the game. In the end, it just wasn’t enough.
Even though USC was down by as many as seven points, the Trojans came back with the help of graduate forward Kiki Iriafen, who finished the job with her seven fourth-quarter points.
Iriafen made a tough and-one layup, giving the Trojans a 75-72 lead with 1:28 remaining.
Senior forward Rayah Marshall had two critical blocks toward the end of the game, basically sealing the deal for USC.
Marshall was a key player, especially on defense. She had four points, 15 rebounds, two steals and four blocks.
Head coach Lindsay Gottleib said in her post game conference that Marshall has “been terrific and is just a huge part of any success [USC is] having.”
USC returns home on Sunday to play Penn State at 5 p.m. at Galen Center.