Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson scored 21 points and Southern California led wire to wire to roll past Northwestern 83-65 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Trojans controlled the game from the opening minutes, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never allowing Northwestern to seriously threaten. The win marks the Trojans’ first victory over the Wildcats since 1983, snapping a long road drought in Evanston, Ill.
Davidson sparked USC’s momentum early, scoring nine straight points during an 11-0 opening run. The Trojans forced six turnovers in the first quarter and converted them into quick points, opening a 28-16 advantage after 10 minutes.
“[It’s] fun to come here and compete,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “[I’m] proud of how our team came out ... Northwestern is a very skilled team.”
The Trojans widened the gap in the second quarter, using a 12-2 run midway through the frame and closing the half with a 14-2 surge. USC shot 61% from the field and finished with a season-high 53 points in the first half over the 28 points scored by the Wildcats.
Senior guard Kara Dunn contributed steady, scoring throughout the night and finished with 18 points, while sophomore guard Kennedy Smith added 17 points and 11 rebounds to secure the second double-double of her career. Smith also dished out five assists and helped USC control the boards, with the Trojans outrebounding Northwestern 40-31.
“I feel like as a team with these last couple of games, we’ve improved a lot,” Smith said. “We’ve stayed consistent and are playing together and growing as a team, and that starts in practice. I think the games matter the most in February and March, so we’re here to be better from here on out.”
Davidson continued to pace USC after halftime, opening the third quarter with a layup and later completing a three-point play as the Trojans pushed the lead to as many as 27. The freshman phenom added six assists and two steals, extending her streak to 20 consecutive games scoring in double figures.
Northwestern showed some life in the second half behind senior forward Grace Sullivan, who led all Wildcats with 24 points. Junior guard Casey Harter added 20 points, but the team struggled from the perimeter, shooting just 3-for-16 from the three-point line.
Redshirt freshman forward Laura Williams provided a strong presence inside for USC, scoring eight points on 4-for-5 shooting and blocking a game-high three shots. Sophomore guard/forward Dayana Mendes added seven points off the bench, while senior guard Londynn Jones chipped in 10 points to give the Trojans four players in double figures.
USC finished the game shooting 47% from the field and scored 19 points off turnovers. The Trojans also recorded 13 fast-break points and consistently capitalized on Northwestern’s mistakes, committing just seven turnovers of their own.
The Wildcats shot 42.4% overall but were limited to 18.8% from beyond the arc. Despite a stronger fourth quarter, Northwestern was unable to cut the deficit to fewer than 16 points down the stretch.
“We executed the game plan well,” Gottlieb said. “To get a good win on the road is always a big thing and we’ll keep working.”
USC will continue its conference road swing Sunday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m. against Illinois.