USC women’s basketball snaps four-game losing streak with rout of Purdue
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- USC women’s basketball defeats Purdue 83-57, snapping a four-game losing streak with a dominant performance at Galen Center.
- Guard Kennedy Smith returns from three games missed with a lower leg injury to help the Trojans build early momentum.
- Kara Dunn leads the offensive outburst with 29 points while Jazzy Davidson scores 13 with six assists in the victory.
The USC women’s basketball team ended a four-game losing streak by dominating Purdue 83-57 at Galen Center on Sunday.
The Trojans’ ability to force 21 turnovers helped fuel their decisive transition offense.
“We turned them over a bunch, which always helps us to play in transition. I think we’re incredibly good at transition,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I did think there was a pop in their step, just a conscious effort to kind of push tempo and push pace.”
USC guard Kennedy Smith returned to the court after missing three games while recovering from a lower leg injury.
Kara Dunn scored 21 points and Jazzy Davidson had 12 but the USC women’s basketball team loses to Maryland.
“Having Ken back on the court is a huge blessing,” senior guard Kara Dunn said. “We love to have her just because even though she’s a sophomore, Ken‘s basically a vet. She knows what she’s doing on the defensive end, on the offensive end — it makes everything just so much easier. So just having her back means a lot for us.”
The Trojans (11-7, 3-4 Big Ten) built early offensive momentum and opened up a 10-point lead against Purdue (10-8, 2-5), setting a strong tone during the first quarter.
USC maintained control by scoring nine points to start the second quarter before a foul on Vivian Iwuchukwu sent Purdue forward Lana McCarthy to the free-throw line, where she recorded the Boilermakers’ first points of the period.
The Trojans responded with a three-pointer from Dunn, continuing to apply pressure on the offensive end.
“We were just hunting the best possible offense,” Gottlieb said. “I thought we ran sets well when it was time to run sets and I thought we played in flow well tonight and I am expecting that to continue to get better as the season goes.”
Dunn said she has embraced a more aggressive scoring mindset.
“Taking more shot attempts in general isn’t anything I’m unfamiliar with,” Dunn said. “I think that’s probably a mindset I should have had sooner. I’m grateful to be able to step up in this position and I really hope that I keep it going throughout the season.”
Although Purdue found a rhythm and cut into the deficit, the Boilermakers were unable to take the lead, and the Trojans entered halftime with a commanding 42–27 advantage.
USC’s offense remained consistent throughout the second half, converting scoring opportunities and following through on shots as the Trojans maintained control of the game.
Dunn delivered a standout performance with a season-high 29 points and five rebounds. Jazzy Davidson was limited to three points in the first half, but the freshman star found her rhythm after halftime and finished with 13 points and six assists.
Londynn Jones added 15 points, and Iwuchukwu contributed seven points and four rebounds.
Purdue guard Tara Daye led the Boilermakers with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Kiki Smith added 15 points, while Avery Gordon finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Kara Dunn scores 14 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter, but it’s not enough as No. 21 USC falls to Minnesota 63-62 for its third consecutive loss.
USC will try to build on its win during a grueling Big Ten stretch, with games Thursday at No. 15 Michigan State, Sunday at No. 8 Michigan and Jan. 29 at home against No. 11 Iowa.
“Winning is always more fun, but we’re going to keep the foot on the gas. It’s almost easier to push them a little bit when you’re not as worried about it,” Gottlieb said of winning. “I had to strike a balance with what is our standard, what’s acceptable, but also to know we really can do it. So I think the mood is more fun … but I think they’re going to be highly motivated to do what we’re capable of doing going forward.”
