Trojans Manage 63-55 Win

As first games go, USC’s opener was neither memorable nor historic, save for the fact the Trojans were playing in their first Women’s Preseason NIT.

But the Trojans won’t throw back the results -- a 63-55 first-round victory Friday over Northern Arizona, before 1,107 at the Sports Arena.

The Trojans next travel to Fort Collins, Colo., to play No. 19 Colorado State on Sunday in the quarterfinals. Colorado State defeated San Francisco, 76-58, Friday.

USC forward Rachel Woodward led all scorers with 15 points. Ebony Hoffman added 14 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Also key were 13 points from Jessica Cheeks, who has shifted to shooting guard after struggling at times last season as the point.

“That’s my normal spot,” said Cheeks, who made six of 13 shots and grabbed five rebounds. “The point is more structured. You have to call plays, make sure people are in the right spot, set up other people to get the ball. This year I’m trying to score, but still get other people involved.”

Lacey Tolbert led Northern Arizona (0-1) with 14 points.

Friday’s game was the first meeting between the schools as well as the first time Northern Arizona Coach Meg Sanders had competed against USC’s Chris Gobrecht as a peer. Sanders played for Gobrecht at Cal State Fullerton in the 1980s.

For 13 minutes the Lumberjacks played the Trojans even, 18-18. Then USC used a 14-2 run in the final seven minutes to take a 32-20 halftime lead.

Northern Arizona hung around in the second half from long distance. All six of its three-point field goals (in 12 attempts) came in the final 20 minutes. Missing 10 of 24 free throws, USC couldn’t pull away. Yet the closest Northern Arizona came was 57-50 with 1:27 left to play.

“They played well and were very scrappy,” Gobrecht said of Northern Arizona. “We won the game at the end of the first half. But we have better people than we showed tonight. And we know this.”

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In first-round games of the Women’s Preseason NIT, Kendra Wecker had 20 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 5 Kansas State defeat Ball State, 71-61, at Manhattan, Kan.... Tanisha Wright scored eight of her 19 points during a key second-half run as No. 14 Penn State beat Bucknell, 86-72, at State College, Pa.... LaToya Thomas scored 26 points and Tan White had 23 as No. 24 Mississippi State defeated South Alabama, 87-61, at Starkville, Miss.