Miller Struggles, So Do USC’s Women Before Putting Away Arizona, 92-72

Although the USC women’s basketball team beat Arizona, 92-72, Thursday night at the Sports Arena in an opening Pac West game for both teams, it was anything but routine.

Arizona shot 65.2% in the first half and trailed by only 37-33 at halftime. The Trojans had to work hard in the second half to put away the Wildcats.

Cheryl Miller, who missed Tuesday night’s game with Cal State Fullerton, seemed listless for a while--and for good reason.

She had four stitches taken in her eye last Friday, an injury she incurred in a game against Louisiana Tech Jan. 6 on the road.

Miller wound up with 23 points and 5 rebounds while playing 29 minutes. But she made only 6 of 13 shots, several just a trifle short, and seemed to be struggling at times.

Of course, Miller draws a crowd, and the Wildcats swarmed on her when she had the ball.

“Cheryl has had about only one hour of practice time in the last eight days,” USC Coach Linda Sharp said. “Her rhythm is off and she has to get back into playing shape.”

Miller was in New Orleans Tuesday night for the Broderick Award dinner, but she was back in Los Angeles by Wednesday morning.

Sharp said USC’s pressing defense helped turn the game around for USC in the second half and the Trojans also benefited from the foul line. USC went on a seven-point blitz while leading, 40-37, and Arizona didn’t seriously threaten the rest of the game.

Cynthia Cooper was a catalyst for USC. She got 15 of her 22 points in the second half, while Rhonda Windham and Cherie Nelson finished with 16 and 15, points respectively.

Myroslava Acosta led Arizona with 20 points, making 10 of 14 shots. USC improved its overall record to 14-2, while Arizona is 11-4.