University of Oregon
10-9, 2-5
USC
10-6, 5-1
Trojans Use Late Push To Hold Off Oregon
01/20/12 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The first half resembled the second, as USC used big runs in each period to pull away in a 92-73 Trojan victory at the Galen Center on Thursday night.
The Ducks (10-9, 2-5) had erased a 13-point halftime deficit to take a 60-59 lead with 10:35 to play, but it would be Oregon's only lead of the second half as USC found a way to pull away again from the Ducks, outscoring UO 21-5 in the game's next six minutes, a run that included two three pointers.
Briana Gilbreath was one rebound short of a triple-double with a game-high 18 points and game-high 11 assists as well as nine rebounds to lead USC (10-6, 5-1), while Cassie Harberts chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds as well. Gilbreath also recorded a game-high five blocks.
Oregon was led by freshman Liz Brenner as the Portland native scored a career-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and led the Ducks in scoring for the first time in her career.
USC held 53-42 advantage with 17:01 to play, but the Ducks pieced together a 9-0 run thanks to a Jasmin Holliday lay-up and Jordan Loera three-pointer. Trojan head coach Michael Cooper was called for a technical foul, sending Loera to the line and the freshman calmly knocked down two free throws as UO closed 53-51 with 13:04 to play.
Desiree Bradley's three-pointer then finally ended UO's run for USC at the 12:32 mark.
But Oregon continued to challenge the Trojans, and the Ducks took their first lead of the second half, 60-59, executing the fast break as Nia Jackson ran the length of the floor before dishing the ball for a Holliday lay-in with 10:35 left on the clock.
But USC then used a 21-5 run to take an 80-65 lead with 4:16 to play.
The Trojans shot 40.2 percent (33-of-82) from the floor and knocked down eight three-pointers. USC also held a 58-39 rebounding advantage and scored 24 second-chance points on 18 offensive rebounds. USC also dished 25 assists – an Oregon opponent season high.
Christina Marinacci added 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double, and McDonald's All-American freshman Alexyz Vaioletama added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Holliday poured in 14 points and added six rebounds in her 16th double-figure scoring game of the year, while Loera knocked down three three-pointers and scored 13 points off the bench.
Oregon shot 37.3 percent (28-of-75) from the floor and Jackson led the Ducks with three assists.
USC went into the locker room ahead 49-36 after turning a slim 33-31 advantage into a 13-point lead during the final four minutes of the half.
The Ducks began the game at a frantic pace, shooting 75.0 percent from the floor and taking an early 12-4 advantage in the game's first four minutes.
But USC responded by using a 12-2 run to take its first lead of the game, 16-14, with 11:24 to play. During that stretch the Ducks were held scoreless for nearly five minutes until Brenner earned an inside bucket at the 11:11 mark.
The Ducks trailed just 33-31 with 3:49 left in the first half, but the Trojans ended the period on a 16-5 run.
Brenner led Oregon with eight first-half points, while Holliday, Jackson and Laura Stanulis each had six.
Vaioletama led USC off the bench with 10 first-half points shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and adding seven rebounds.
Then Ducks shot 39.5 percent (15-of-38) in the first half, but were outrebounded 30-21 as USC scored 12 second-chance points on nine offensive rebounds. The Trojans also shot 43.5 percent, dishing 17 assists on 20 buckets.
Oregon returns to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, playing UCLA at the John Wooden Center.
Notes: Liz Brenner scored a career-high 16 points, and led Oregon in scoring for the first time in her career…Laura Stanulis' six points were her career best against a conference opponent…Jasmin Holliday recorded the 16th double-figure scoring game of her career with 14 points…USC's 25 assists were an Oregon opponent season high…Oregon has now lost five straight to the Trojans...USC is currently receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Top-25 poll.
