Ohio State’s women’s basketball team (20-3, 9-3) wrapped up its West Coast road trip on Saturday night with a tough 84-63 loss to No. 7 USC (21-2, 11-1). Despite an early defensive effort that stifled USC’s star JuJu Watkins, the Buckeyes couldn’t find consistent offense, allowing the Trojans to pull away.
Strong Start, But Trouble Brewing
Ohio State opened the game with defensive intensity, forcing five early turnovers while USC missed its first seven shots. However, the Buckeyes couldn’t capitalize offensively. Forward Ajae Petty, who had been scoreless against UCLA earlier in the week, led the early charge with four points inside the paint.
USC’s size advantage quickly became a factor, with the Trojans starting four players at least six feet tall. This length made it difficult for Ohio State’s playmakers, Jaloni Cambridge and Cotie McMahon, to get into the paint. The Trojans outrebounded the Buckeyes 17-9 in the first quarter and forced McMahon into early foul trouble, limiting her minutes.
USC Finds Its Rhythm
Despite USC’s cold start, the Trojans found their groove in the second quarter, taking a 34-26 lead into halftime. Surprisingly, Watkins was not the driving force behind their run—she struggled in the first half, missing all seven of her shots and scoring only two points from the free-throw line.
Ohio State, on the other hand, faced offensive struggles of its own. While Petty remained a bright spot with eight points, foul trouble limited her impact. She picked up two quick fouls late in the second quarter, including an unnecessary one near midcourt, sending her to the bench with three fouls before halftime.
A Second-Half Surge by USC
Coming out of the locker room, Ohio State looked determined to attack the paint. McMahon went to the basket aggressively, even taking a hard fall that briefly forced her out of the game. The Buckeyes tried to force USC into foul trouble, and it initially worked—Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen, who had 18 points at the time, picked up three fouls in the first three minutes of the third quarter.
However, even with Iriafen on the bench, USC maintained control. After a timeout by head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, the Trojans responded with a quick 5-0 run, stretching their lead to 13. Ohio State attempted to counter with a smaller lineup that generated turnovers and fast-break opportunities, briefly cutting the deficit to single digits.
Then, with just over two minutes left in the third, Watkins finally hit her first shot from the floor after missing her first 11 attempts. That basket sparked a seven-point USC run, extending the lead to 14 by the end of the quarter.
Ohio State Runs Out of Answers
The fourth quarter saw USC extend its lead to as much as 20 points. Ohio State continued to fight, but defensive breakdowns and inconsistent shooting prevented any serious comeback attempt. Taylor Thierry, one of the Buckeyes’ most reliable defenders, fouled out late in the game, making the uphill battle even tougher.
USC dominated the rebounding battle 60-29 and blocked 10 shots, making it nearly impossible for the Buckeyes to establish a rhythm.
Key Performances
• Ohio State:Taylor Thierry led with 14 points, five rebounds, and five steals. Four of Ohio State’s five starters scored in double figures, but it wasn’t enough.
• USC:Kiki Iriafen finished with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Watkins managed 17 points and 10 rebounds despite her shooting struggles.
