Los Angeles, CA- Kara “KD” Dunn does it all with a decorative double-double, 25 points and 12 rebounds for USC to upset No. 8 Iowa in a rollercoaster game with USC winning the odd quarters and game despite Iowa winning the even quarters but losing their first league match of the season, 81-69.
Women of Troy returned to the Galen Center in hunt for a home victory after falling twice on a two-game road trip to Michigan and Michigan State. Both Dunn and freshman Jazzy Davidson came out aggressive scoring the first two baskets for USC and setting the tone for their team’s plan of attack.
“A win for us on so many levels,” USC Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I’m just so proud of our team. I think, you know, I’d felt confident because of the way we approached the Michigan trip, the way we approached when we came back we battled. I think we came out, the aggressors and carried it through and had great performances across the board.”
USC outscored Iowa 28 to 15 behind Dunn’s 11 points in the first period. Iowa came back blazing in second period, closing in on the Women of Troy, and entering halftime, only down by six, 43-37.
“All of my assistant coaches do an incredible job at their scouts,” Coach Gottlieb said. “This one was coach Nikki Blue’s and we were very specific that they have a great interior game, you know, so we wanted to battle the bigs, not let them get deep position and help big to big, but really take their guards out of it with pressure. And I thought Kennedy and Jazzy and London and Diana who came in did a really good job of that. I really got on them about the six made threes for Iowa in the first half…”
USC’s response to coach Gottlieb’s halftime pep talk was evident in her returning sophomore guard Smith’s, whom put on layup clinic with a series of right hand downhill drives against Iowa, rallying up 10 points in the third period, helping her team post over 25 points. Iowa went 0 for 3 from deep range and only tallied 14 points, ending the quarter, 51-70.
“I’m here for everything that Kennedy Smith brings and that comes with growth, too, right?” Coach Gottlieb said. “I thought Kennedy’s second half response today was incredibly important for us. She always sets the tone defensively, right…I know she didn’t have the offensive half in the first half that she wanted. I didn’t say much. I just literally went up to her at halftime and said, “Keep attacking. Keep being aggressive.” And…if they’re going to double KD, Jazzy’s going to get a mid-range jumper. If they’re going to sell out on Jazzy, Ken’s going to go to the rim. And this was one really good game for us.”
USC had four starters to finish in double digits led by Dunn. Davidson added 21 points and eight assists. Londynn Jones poured in 15 and Smith finished with 12.
Both teams are dealing with multiple injured players and constant adjustments to their rosters.
Hawkeyes struggled all game with infrequent flashes of why they are a top ten ranked team.
However, USC usual suspects, Dunn and Davidson killed any notion of their season being over or counting out their team for the hunt of a league and NCAA tournament run.
“I feel like our focus like Jazzy and me after every single game I’ve said it before we talk about what happened, how we can do better moving forward, Dunn said. “And every time before the game we look at each other before we run out we’re like are you ready? And she’s like yeah I’m ready. “And we like clap hands or something and we go out and we know
that we need to handle business.”
USC handled their business and closed shop on Iowa undefeated conference play holding on to final buzzer to end the month on an encouraging note.
Meanwhile, Iowa who could not figure out how to unclog the paint of USC swarming interior defense, slowing down Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden from getting easy touches in a Jan Jensen’s signature post initiated offense.
The Hawkeyes were led by Journey Houston’s 16 points and eight rebounds, while Stuelke had a snoozing 10 points and one board. Heiden added 13 points and eight boards. While Taylor Stremlow came off the bench and scored 11.
Iowa is now 18-3 on the season and 9-1 in conference.
“We really felt like we needed this win and I feel like we’ve had a lot of great practices and I feel like just the team morale is really good right now despite the losses,” coach Gottlieb said. “It’s just good for us to have this win and moving forward into February building on it.”
USC (12-9, 4-6) will return home to the Galen Center on Sunday late in the afternoon to face Rutgers in hope to begin a winning streak against another league opponent.
