Cheryl Miller Misses Second Game, but USC Women Don’t Miss Her, 87-64

The USC women’s basketball team, playing its second straight game without Cheryl Miller, defeated Cal State Fullerton, 87-64, in a nonconference game Saturday at the Sports Arena.

Cherie Nelson scored 17 points and Holly Ford added 16 for the seventh-ranked Trojans, who improved their record to 20-3. The Titans, in losing their second game to USC this season, fell to 7-14.

USC led, 32-31, at the half but put the game away with a 19-2 run early in the second half. Nelson, a 6-3 freshman center, scored nine points during that time.

“We didn’t create a fast tempo in the first half,” USC Coach Linda Sharp said. “Our defense made a difference in the second half.

“Cherie wasn’t making her power moves in the first half. We talked about it at halftime and in the second half, she started doing it.”

Miller, who injured her neck in a spill last week against UCLA, is expected to practice Monday and play Friday night at Arizona State.

Karon Howell had 15 points for USC, while Rhonda Windham added 11 points and 11 assists. Felicia Benson was the Titans’ leading scorer with 14 points.