USC Takes Off Fast, Then Has to Hang On

Because USC has seldom built a large lead against an opponent this season, the Trorjans could be forgiven for not believing the 24-point margin they had against Washington in the second half of Saturday’s game.

To give up that lead would have been unforgivable. But the Trojans almost did that, letting the Huskies storm back to within five points before holding on to a 73-68 win in front of 3,092 in the Sports Arena.

A career-best 16 points by senior center Kim Gipson and 12 points by backup senior forward Rachel Woodward were instrumental in USC’s raising its record to 16-6 overall and 10-3 in Pacific 10 Conference play. Just as important, the Trojans still stand alone in second place in the Pac-10 behind high-flying Stanford.

“The small picture -- we had to hang on to that lead, and you criticize them for that,” said Coach Mark Trakh, who spent a little extra time in the locker room talking with the team. “We got that lead, then stopped getting back on defense. So I criticized them for the last nine minutes of the game

“But the big picture -- we’re 16-6 and 10-3 in conference, and no one expected that. So I praised them for the last three months.”

Gipson, who has had an up-and-down career at USC, is on an upswing. Along with making six of 10 shots from the field, she had five rebounds and two assists and made her four free throws.

“She is playing the best basketball of her life right now,” Trakh said. “She started slowly but just keeps getting better and better.”

Gipson agreed with the assessment. “I’m more confident in my role on the team. Everyone is buying into the system and playing their role. There are no star players here.”

But the game should not have been as close as the outcome. USC buried Washington (9-14, 5-8) with a 20-4 run midway through the first half, and led, 43-24, at the half. With 12 minutes 49 seconds to play, the lead rose to 65-41.

That’s when the Huskies gathered themselves and mounted a rally, outscoring USC, 24-5, over the next 10:52 to cut the deficit to 70-65.

But that’s as close as Washington got.