Trojans Run Win Streak to Five, 78-60

USC unveiled a new weapon and stretched its win streak to five Friday night at the Sports Arena with a 78-60 victory over Pepperdine.

Aisha Hollans is a 5-foot-10 freshman from Berkeley, billed as one of the nation’s best backcourt prospects when signed by Trojan Coach Chris Gobrecht a year ago. But she hadn’t played this season because of a back injury.

She treated an appreciative crowd of 893 to a spectacular first half in leading USC to a 38-29 halftime lead. She made all four shots from the field and had a blocked shot that brought the crowd to its feet.

“She was the reason we had a lead at halftime,” Gobrecht said.

“Aisha Hollans can flat-out play. She can put the ball in the basket from anywhere. Everyone saw tonight what we’ve been missing. Without her, we’ve been kind of scrambling, putting things together.”

USC (5-2) halted Pepperdine’s five-game win streak in a game that was decided early in the second half.

The Waves (7-3) nearly wiped out USC’s halftime lead in less than two minutes with an 8-0 run that drew them within 38-37, but that was their high-water mark. USC then pinned a 23-7 run on Pepperdine, which is 0-14 all-time against USC.

Hollans, who when not on the court had an ice pack on her lower back, scored 14 points in her 20 minutes and finished six for 12 from the field. She didn’t miss a shot until 14:38 remained.

“I just wanted to play hard tonight, especially on defense, and try to make things happen,” Hollans said.

“My back is really burning right now, and it will really be sore in the morning but I was encouraged by my first game.”

Gobrecht was also encouraged, wondering how her prize recruit will be when she’s healthy and with more games under her belt.

“She’s practiced full-time one week, part-time two weeks,” Gobrecht said.

“If we’d had her on that first road trip, we’d have won one of those two games [season-opening defeats at Creighton and Drake].”

USC junior Tiffany Elmore had a game-high 22 points.

The Trojans leave Tuesday for two games in Texas, at Baylor on Wednesday and Texas Tech on Friday. They return home to meet Notre Dame on Dec. 28 at the Sports Arena.