USC women breeze, 78-45

The USC women’s basketball team had no problem beating Grambling State on Thursday at the Galen Center, largely because the visitors had big problems putting the ball in the basket.

The Tigers missed 20 consecutive shots in the first half, clearing the way for USC’s 78-45 victory.

It sets up tonight’s title game of the second Women of Troy Basketball Classic against Portland State (9-1). The Vikings defeated Hawaii, 78-72.

Camille LeNoir scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the first half as USC (6-4) opened a 37-18 lead.

Grambling State (1-7) went almost 14 minutes without scoring and made only three of 29 shots in the half.

Heather Oliver had 11 points with a season-high five assists for USC. In three starts in place of Brynn Cameron (hip), Oliver has made 13 of 20 shots and averaged 10 points.

“It doesn’t really matter who starts,” Oliver said, “but it’s a lot harder coming off the bench.”

-- Martin Henderson

MEN

Cal State Fullerton 79, Montana 76 -- Frank Robinson scored 20 points and Scott Cutley had a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in the Titans’ overtime victory. Fullerton (6-2) is 4-0 at home. Montana fell to 5-7.

Sam Houston State 61, UC Irvine 54 -- Shamir McDaniel scored a game-high 22 points for undefeated Sam Houston State at Huntsville, Texas.

McDaniel made six of eight shots for the Bearkats (10-0). Trey Harris scored 13 points to lead the Anteaters (4-6).

Cal State Northridge 94, Vanguard 49 -- Calvin Chitwood scored 20 points for the Matadors (7-2), whose margin of victory was the ninth largest in team history.

Vanguard, an NAIA school, fell to 7-3.