Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson continued her standout debut season Tuesday night, powering No. 16 USC to a commanding 79-33 win over Saint Mary’s at Galen Center.
The Trojans (6-2) never lost control of the game, using a decisive second-quarter surge and 33 points off the bench to hand the Gaels (5-4) their most lopsided defeat of the season.
USC’s early defense set the tone, but its overwhelming second quarter burst broke the game open. After a competitive first period, the Trojans held Saint Mary’s to just one made field goal in the second, outscoring the Gaels 24-4 and entering halftime up 42-18.
Davidson, who just earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, delivered another polished all-around performance. With 14 points, six rebounds, three steals and a season high six assists, she directed USC’s pace and repeatedly exploited gaps in the Saint Mary’s defense.
“My teammates, they’re shot-makers, so that really helps a lot,” Davidson said. “Being able to play with great players makes it really easy to get those assists.”
Her poise and versatility fueled a Trojan offense that shot 46.4% from the field despite constant rotation and experimentation from head coach Lindsay Gottlieb.
“I just think there’s not a lot of things [Davidson] cannot do on the basketball court,” Gottlieb said. “So just trying to get the ball in her hands in different spots, knowing she can make the right play. We’ve played her a bit more at point guard because she’s going to draw a lot of attention, be able to make plays for herself and others.”
Senior guard Londynn Jones provided a jolt off the bench, scoring a game-high 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting and hitting three 3-pointers. Jones’ energy and shot creation helped USC stretch its lead whenever the Gaels tried to catch up.
USC’s depth overwhelmed Saint Mary’s throughout the night. Eleven Trojans scored, and the bench nearly doubled the Gaels’ total scoring output. Gottlieb praised the group’s commitment to execution.
“It’s not just getting better at your jumper or getting better at a play,” Gottlieb said. “It’s mentally saying do we need to talk more? Do we need to be tougher? Do we need to run faster or get different looks? I think our strengths are going to come from our versatility.”
The Trojans’ defensive dominance was the story of the night. USC forced 29 turnovers, picked off 16 steals and turned those mistakes into 28 points. Saint Mary’s, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm after a solid opening quarter. The Gaels shot just 7.7% in the second period and 26.8% overall, sinking only two 3-pointers and producing zero second-chance points despite nine offensive rebounds.
Sophomore power forward Edie Clarke led the Gaels with eight points and six rebounds, while junior guard Emily Foy and senior forward Georgia Grigoropoulou added four apiece. Saint Mary’s never recovered from its cold spells on both ends, scoring seven points or fewer in two separate quarters.
USC controlled the interior with a 34-18 advantage in the paint, capitalizing on drives, post touches and transition play.
The Trojans also kept their home winning streak intact, extending it to 18 games – the program’s longest since 1988.
“We’re working on execution, giving full effort every possession, getting better at boxing out and moving the ball,” senior guard Kara Dunn said. “Games like this are important because there’s no reason we shouldn’t be efficient.”
USC turns its attention to Sunday’s Big Ten opener at Galen Center as the Trojans host the Washington Huskies at 5 p.m.