Los Angeles, CA – Freshmen Jazzy Davidson scored 24 points as she continues to progress this season in her role as the team’s go to scorer while her team demonstrated collective growth by extending their win streak to six games after withstanding Wisconsin at the Galen Center, Thursday night, 66-59.
“I thought we were super locked in especially when shots weren’t falling,” USC Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
Both teams got off to a sluggish start with USC trailing 6-2 before a media timeout occurred at 4:37 mark followed by a set play that caught Wisconsin off guard on a backdoor screen leading to an easy basket to initiate a USC run.
“I think that that we tried to work on a lot of different things and it doesn’t all, you know, show in one game, right?“ Coach Gottlieb said about her team’s development over their bye week. “We want to make every shot and make every play. But I think just the connectivity how we worked a lot actually on defending off ball screens because I don’t think we did a great job of that against Indiana.”
Women of Troy d’up to close out that first period with ten points off of six forced Badgers turnovers. Davidson finished the period on a converted three-point play, putting her team up, 14-10.
“We have so many people who can make plays on the team,” Coach Gottlieb said. “so just knowing what’s the right read and if the right read is a pull-up jumper five times in a row, you take it like you expect to make it. And if the right read is a kick, you know, to the roller or a spray out, like so we just try to work on those things and I do see a ton of growth. I see a ton of growth all the time and doesn’t mean it’s going to lead to perfect games, but hopefully it leads to a lot of winning and winning down the stretch when games are at their most critical.”
Davidson resume the second period with another scoring drive, followed by a deep range triple, increasing the scoring margin to double digits, 23-13, USC advantage.
The Women of Troy never looked back after finding their rhythm in the open court for 13 fastbreak points. Davidson entered halftime with a game high 10 points, and redshirt freshman Laura Williams continued her dominance ever since her game minutes increased with six boards and four blocks. USC led Wisconsin, 30-22 for the first half.
“I think it’s all slowed down for her [Davidson], coach Gottlieb said. “Like even though she plays at a really great pace, I think the reads have slowed down, the ability to see what’s in front of her in the right play. And then you see the versatility in our game come out because it it could be threes, it could be getting all the way to the rim, it could be pull-ups, it could be passing…”
Davidson who was like a touch of jazz on both ends of the court—flowing in her mid-range jumper, crescendo with her blocks, and fading away from deep, putting on a symphony of classic plays against Wisconsin with a perfect field percentage, 5-5 for 14 points.
“Jazz’s role is obviously really significant, “coach Gottlieb said. “She’s just involved in everything. And to see a young player
just continue to take on different ways that they can improve and be elite is great, but it’s across the board. I think all of our players have kind of bought into that…”
USC held on to their lead, presenting tangible growth and composure on both ends of the floor, particularly on their defense. Wisconsin wasn’t allowed to get closer than six despite some great pick in roll action that could not get them over the hump, finishing the third down, 51-42.
Junior Dayana Mendes picked up some critical minutes as Senior Kara Dunn had an unusual off shooting night, to open the fourth-quarter with a dagger three-pointer stretching the lead to 14, 56-42.
“Obviously, on the defensive end, I think when you’re really talented and you come in, you’re just thrown in, you just play,” coach Gottlieb said.
USC did not throw away their shot for most of the game, capitalizing on a frantic Wisconsin team turnovers and amping up their dominance on ball pressure as you could sense the game slipping away.
Women of Troy sealed the game on 15 fast break points and a 17-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Davidson dished out six assists to go along with her 23rd consecutive contest in double figures, fourth straight with 20 or more points and 11 times reaching the 20-point mark this season. Dunn chipped in 14 points and Williams posted a career-high 14 rebounds alongside matching a career best four blocks.
“My dad [Super Bowl champ and quarterback Doug Williams], he’s kind
of just given me bits and pieces as I’ve grown up, Williams said about his influence on her athletic performance. “I know he went through a lot of hardship at the time that he did what he did. So kind of just seeing him or like knowing that he went through that and knowing that I could do it myself no matter what type of adversity I face…Even if it looks a little different than what he went through.”
USC travels back east for their final road trip of the season, matching up against No. 10 Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 22, followed by Penn State on Wednesday, Feb. 25 before the rematch March 1st crosstown showdown with UCLA an onset of March Madness.
