Timing Is Everything for USC

As the only senior starting for the USC women’s basketball team, Adrain Williams took it upon herself to lead the Trojans to a 53-49 victory over Oregon State in a Pacific 10 Conference game Sunday at the Lyon Center.

Williams missed 17 of 22 shots from the field, but made big plays when it mattered--including a basket off an inbounds play that gave USC, 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-10, the lead for good, 49-47, with just less than one minute to play.

“It’s tough to make a shot like that when you’ve been struggling just to get shots to fall through the basket,” USC Coach Chris Gobrecht said. “But she came through.”

USC held off Oregon State (9-4, 1-3) by making four of six free throws in the final minute, including two by Tashara Carter that extended a two-point lead with four seconds left.

Williams had 18 points and 10 rebounds and made all six of her second-half free throws as the Trojans rallied from a six-point deficit in the final six minutes.

USC didn’t start well, allowing Chassie Wiersma to score 10 consecutive points in the first five minutes of the game.

After taking a 28-25 lead by halftime, the Trojans endured another difficult stretch, scoring four points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

But the Beavers didn’t do much to help themselves, committing 33 turnovers.

“I felt as a senior, I had to do everything I could to get us a victory,” Williams said. “It was an ugly win, but it was a win.”

Both teams were playing without major weapons. Senior guard Kristin Clark missed her second consecutive game for USC after suffering a knee injury last week. Oregon State started four freshmen after center Sissel Pierce didn’t make the trip because of a knee injury.

Carter, in her second start at guard, scored 12 points for USC. Wiersma had 14 points for Oregon State.