Los Angeles, Ca- USC bounced back with blocks and boards to beat Tennessee Tech, 85-44 on Tuesday night at the Galen Center, following a tough last second shot loss against No. 24 Notre Dame over the weekend.
“The team took a really tough loss the other night and came back with a concerted effort to be better,” USC’s head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “The only thing we can do is continue to improve. And what I love about this group is we have so much exciting room for improvement, and I thought we saw some of it tonight.”
Freshmen Guard Jazzy Davidson once again ignited her team on their home floor, dazzling on both ends of the court, with her first double-double of the season, 20 points and 16 rebounds, a career high, leading her team to victory.
“We’re still tinkering with a lot of lineups, but we know Jazzy is capable of impacting in so many different ways,” coach Gottlieb said. “And with her unique abilities, we were able to put Londynn in some spots that she made shots.”
Women of Troy began on a 9-0 run, closing the first quarter, 22-8. From there, USC scored slightly over 20 points per quarter to lead the entire game and cruise through the second half given coach Gottlieb another opportunity to empty her bench at home after another lopsided victory.
Senior Guard Londynn Jones came off the bench, and was on fire for the night, shooting 7-of-9 from the field, including four triples, to finish with 20 points. Her final three pointer was like a nail in the coffin, putting her team up 42 points, 80-38, before subbing out the game.
“A couple of things are happening right,” coach Gottlieb said about her team’s improved shooting the past recent games. “There’s a team, right, regression to the mean, where are our shooters have missed shots…will eventually even out. But it’s more than that, they’ve put the work in.”
Davidson caught a fire in the first half, shooting 6-of-9, including 50 percent from deep, and three assist without any turnovers. Both Jones and Davidson were in double figures by halftime with USC up 43-19.
“I’m playing at my own pace and not letting the defense speed me up is a huge emphasis for me,” Davidson said. “I’m learned that from Londynn and as I’m getting more experience under my belt at this level.”
Golden Eagles could hardly score, shooting 6-of-34 in the half, and finishing the game shooting 21.5 percent from field goal, 23.8 percent from threes, and 44 percent from the charity stripe.
Women of Troy had 15 blocks for the game which Coach Gottlieb announced during the postgame press conference “as the program’s second most in a game since 1984.” Ten of those ‘denials’ came in the first half. Redshirt -Freshman Forward Laura Williams led the block party with four, Junior Center Yakiya Milton added three and Davidson two.
Chloe Larry and Cam Mathews scored 12 points apiece to lead the Eagles (4-2). Reghan Grimes, Tech’s leading scorer, scored seven points almost half of her average, 15.2 points per game.
Women of Troy outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 49-38, as well outscored them in the paint, 40-16. Sophomore Forward Vivian Iwuchukwu poured in 11 points, a career-high, on 5-of-6 field goals in the paint along with three rebounds and two blocks.
“[Vivian] really seeks out the feedback,” coach Gottlieb said. “She is the first one to ask for film after the game. She has been in the gym a ton, and has been very hungry to get better. That progress is showing. She is a great example of continuing to progress. Watch the film, put the work in, and that’s when things improve.”
Next USC (4-2) returns home to face nearby university, Pepperdine, on Friday afternoon for the second straight home game out of six homestead.
