For nearly 12 minutes, the Portland Pilots looked ready to punch above its weight and challenge No. 11 USC on its home floor.
The Pilots led by as many as eight early, controlling the pace, defending with energy and forcing the Trojans into an uncharacteristically slow offensive start.
But once USC settled in, the game dramatically shifted — and a dominant 24-5 run to close the second quarter ultimately defined a 78-51 Trojan victory at Galen Center.
USC improved to 3-1, rebounding decisively from its loss to South Carolina. Portland fell to 2-2, undone by turnovers and scoring droughts that opened wide lanes for USC’s athleticism.
Portland opened the game with confidence. They hit its first rhythm shots, defended without fouling and used a 9-0 run to go up 18-10 early in the second quarter. The Pilots’ ball pressure initially bothered USC, and sophomore forward Lainey Spear steadied the offense with tough finishes for a team-high 11 points.
But everything changed at the six-minute mark of the second quarter.
USC flipped a switch defensively, completely suffocating Portland’s guards and turning the game into a track meet. The Trojans forced nine turnovers in the second quarter alone, sparking transition baskets and easy layups. USC closed the half on a 24-5 avalanche and entered the locker room up 34-23.
From that moment forward, Portland never regained control.
USC’s depth and physicality overwhelmed the Pilots after halftime. The Trojans pounded the offensive glass, winning second-chance points 23-13 and grabbing 23 offensive rebounds, including 12 from junior forward Yakiya Milton, who finished with six points and 12 rebounds (seven offensive) in just 12 minutes. Her work on the glass repeatedly extended possessions and slowly broke Portland’s defensive resistance.
Offensively, USC’s attack came from all angles.
Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson delivered her best collegiate performance to date, pouring in 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on 9-of-16 shooting.
“It’s really unique to be able to play all these amazing teams so early into my freshman season,” Davidson said. “I’m just learning from my teammates and my coaches who have been there before and just learning from every game.”
Sophomore guard Kennedy Smith, the matchup problem Portland expected, added 13 points, six rebounds, three 3-pointers and a steal in 36 controlled minutes.
Senior guard Londynn Jones supplied a major spark off the bench with 12 points, hitting four 3-pointers.
“We have multi-dimensional players, like I said, we’re trying to get the ball to Ken [Kennedy Smith] in the high post or get to Jazzy in the high post,”head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “They can make the right play, they can reverse it and someone can knock down threes, or they can go to the rim, or maybe they’re dumping it.”
USC shot 42.9% from three in the second half and hit four of their last five field goals, stretching the lead to its largest margin (28 points) after a sophomore guard Rian Forestier 3-pointer with 2:21 remaining.
While USC roared, Portland stalled. The Pilots committed 29 turnovers, their highest total of the season, leading directly to 33 USC points. Each time Portland seemed poised for a push, a rushed pass or misread ball screen triggered another transition basket the other way.
Offensively, Portland never regained its early rhythm.
The Pilots shot just 32% from the field and 25% from three, went 0–for-4 on their final attempts and made just one of their final 7 attempts.
USC’s length erased driving lanes, forcing Portland into 20 late-clock jumpers. The Pilots also left points at the line, going 8-for-15 (53%) — a costly margin in a game where every point mattered.
Still, there were bright spots for the Pilots. Redshirt sophomore guard Florence Dallow battled on both ends, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds and three assists while defending multiple USC scorers.
But long stretches without scoring, including a 2:40 field-goal stretch to end the game, prevented Portland from mounting any sort of comeback.
Portland did win one category: blocks, finishing with nine, including three from freshman center Julia Dalan. But USC’s advantages in ball security (18 turnovers), pace control and rebounding were too decisive.
This was a game of identity. Portland’s path to winning — pace, 3-pointers and chaos — disappeared under USC’s length, discipline and second-half execution. The Trojans imposed their style for nearly 30 minutes, and when they do that, there are few teams in the nation that can keep up.
For USC, the response after a loss to South Carolina was exactly what head coach Lindsay Gottlieb wanted: toughness, poise and balance across the roster.
The Trojans head to South Bend on Friday to face No. 24 Notre Dame.