Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson notched a career-high double-double in 25 minutes to lift the Trojans to an 85-44 non-conference victory Tuesday over Tennessee Tech at Galen Center.
Southern California overpowered Tennessee Tech from the opening tip, shooting better than 50% from the field and showcasing its deep bench. The Trojans improved to 4-2 on the season while handing the Golden Eagles (4-2) their most lopsided loss of the young campaign.
USC wasted no time asserting control, racing to a 22-8 lead after the first quarter behind crisp ball movement, balanced scoring and stifling defense. Davidson set the early tone, scoring efficiently inside and out on her way to a team-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, as well as 14 rebounds.
“Playing at my own pace and not letting the defense speed me up is a huge emphasis for me as I’m getting more experience under my belt at this level,” Davidson said.
The Trojans’ defensive presence dictated the game throughout. USC held Tennessee Tech to 21.5% shooting for the night and forced 12 turnovers while racking up 15 blocks, repeatedly turning away drives and second-chance attempts. The Trojans recorded the most blocks in a game in school history since 1984.
Tech shot 4-for-17 in the first quarter and never found a sustained rhythm, finishing with only five total made 3-pointers on 21 attempts.
USC’s offense, meanwhile, clicked at every level. The Trojans shot 52.4% from the floor and 44.4% from deep, scoring at least 21 points in each quarter. Their bench contributed 40 points, nearly matching Tennessee Tech’s full game total.
Senior guard Londynn Jones delivered one of the night’s most explosive performances off the bench, pouring in 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Her energy and shot-making widened the gap whenever the Golden Eagles tried to stabilize.
In the paint, USC’s size and athleticism proved overwhelming. The Trojans outscored Tennessee Tech 40-16 inside and held a 49-38 advantage on the boards. Sophomore forward Vivian Iwuchukwu added 11 points in 15 minutes, while junior forwards Gerda Raulušaityte and Yakiya Milton combined for 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
“The only thing we can do is continue to improve,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “And what I love about this group is we have so much exciting room for improvement, and I thought we saw some of it tonight.”
Tennessee Tech’s struggles stemmed from cold shooting in the first half. The Golden Eagles scored only two field goals in the entire second quarter, entering halftime trailing 43-19. Though they briefly steadied in the third quarter, shooting 37.5%, USC’s offensive consistency prevented any meaningful momentum shift.
Senior guard Cam Mathews and sophomore guard Chloe Larry led Tennessee Tech with 12 points each, with Mathews also grabbing four boards. Senior guard Reghan Grimes contributed seven points and four assists but shot just 1-for-11 from the field. As a team, Tech missed 14 free throws and managed only 16 points in the paint against USC’s towering interior.
USC’s 21 assists on 33 made field goals underscored the Trojans’ fluidity and unselfishness in their cleanest offensive showing of the season. With no ties or lead changes at any point, the Trojans’ control was total from wire to wire.
The Trojans play Friday at home against Pepperdine as part of a six-game homestand.