USC Women Unleash 12 Threes To Beat Cal 77-54

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LOS ANGELES — The USC women's basketball team exploded in the second quarter to create some distance between the Trojans and visiting Cal, landing five 3-pointers in that frame to fuel up for an eventual 77-54 victory over the Golden Bears at Galen Center. USC improves to 2-4 overall and to 1-4 in Pac-12 play with the win. Cal goes to 0-7, 0-4.

USC poured out 13 straight points across the first and second quarters while piling up seven 3-pointers in the first half to craft a comfortable lead over Cal, up 45-26 by halftime. The Trojans were shooting 55 percent from the floor in those first 20 minutes, thanks in part to an incredible 5-of-6 effort from 3-point range in the second quarter. By the final buzzer, USC had shot 47.6 overall, going 12-of-26 from 3-point range and outrebounding Cal 40-35. The Golden Bears shot 36.5 percent from the floor and was 1-of-11 on threes.

USC had four players finish in double digits, led by grad transfer Jordan Sanders' new USC-high of 22 points on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Endyia Rogers was next for USC with 18 points, with Desiree Caldwell adding 12 and Amaya Oliver delivering 11 points. Caldwell also served up a career-high seven assists. Cal had three Bears in double digits:  Michelle Onyiah with 16 point and Evelien Lutje Schipholt and Dalayah Daniels with 11 each. Daniels also had 11 rebounds for Cal.

The lead changed hands six times and was tied up six times in the first frame until USC's Jordan Sanders planted a 3-pointer that lifted USC ahead 18-15 in the final minute of the first. That 3-point spark lit the fuse on 10 straight Trojan points to kick off the second quarter to build out a 28-15 advantage. USC kept charging, with five Trojans knocking down at least one 3-pointer in the first half before Cal was able to hit its first of the day. Endyia Rogers and Desiree Caldwell each had a pair of threes by halftime, and each had 12 points to that point as USC gripped a 45-26 lead at the break. 

The teams traded baskets out of the gates of the third until freshman Zayla Tinner followed up a Sanders three with her first points of the day. That had USC with its largest lead, up 56-34 with 5:00 on the clock. Kyra White kept the Trojan train rolling with her first points of the day next, and USC had a 7-0 surge. Up 62-41 entering the fourth,  USC saw Jordan Sanders run her 3-point tally up to five while Rogers added three straight buckets as the Trojans expanded their lead and wrapped up a 77-55 win over the Golden Bears. 

NEXT: 
USC has a nonconference game on tap next, hosting Long Beach State at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 23) at Galen Center.

NOTABLE:
- With 22 points, SR F Jordan Sanders set her USC high and scored in double digits for the fourth straight game.
- With her five 3-pointers made, Sander set a new career high (previous best was three) — it was the most 3-pointers made by a Trojan since teammate Madison Campbell hit five in USC's season opener vs. LMU.
- With 18 points, SO G Endyia Rogers scored in double digits for the fifth game this season.
- JR G Desiree Caldwell tied her career high of seven assists.
- USC's 12 threes made matches the third most in program history.