No. 4 Stanford Seals Pac-12 Semifinal Spot With 92-53 Win Over USC Women's Basketball

BOX SCORE (PDF) | HIGHLIGHTS | Boxscore

LAS VEGAS, NEV. — The USC women's basketball team came up against a strong Stanford squad in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals. Stifled by a poor showing in the first frame, the Trojans saw the No. 4 Cardinal amass an early lead, and USC would be unable to catch up in taking a 92-53 loss to top-seeded Stanford today in Las Vegas, Nev. The loss leaves USC at 11-12 overall, while Stanford steps into tomorrow's semifinal with a 23-2 record.

In a polar opposite of yesterday's first round, the hoop seemed to have a lid on it for the Trojans in the first half. USC shot a chilly 18 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes while Stanford came up with more 3-pointers — nine — than the Trojans had field goals — seven — as the Cardinal led it 43-16 by halftime. USC would find its touch once again in the second half, shooting 41 percent from the floor to get back to form, although Stanford stayed steamed up and shot 53 percent in those final 20 minutes. By the final buzzer, USC wrapped up with a season-low 28.6 percent overall shooting and just two 3-pointers made. Stanford, meanwhile, finished at 48.6 percent and landed 15 threes. The Cardinal also owned the boards to the tune of a 54-33 advantage, although it committed 14 turnovers to 12 by the Trojans.

For the first time this season, USC had no players finish in double digits, although  nine different Trojans did score in the game. Alissa Pili and Jordyn Jenkins had nine points apiece, while Jenkins added a career-high 11 rebounds. Stanford had 10 players score, led by Ashten Prechtel's double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds and a double-double from Haley Jones with 14 points  and 10 rebounds.

USC's offense was just off the mark in the first frame, with all but two looks rattling out while Stanford capitalized on the misfires and planted four 3-pointers to help craft an early 23-5 Cardinal advantage after 10 minutes of action. The Trojans broke a silent skid with buckets from Shalexxus Aaron and Endyia Rogers to make it 31-9, only to see Stanford land four 3-pointers in the last 3:05 of the half to fuel a push to a 43-16 lead by halftime. The Cardinal kept coming in the second half, although USC was able to up its productivity. Angel Jackson went on a solo run with seven straight points for the Trojans, although Stanford interrupted it with baskets of its own. By the close of the third, USC was trailing 67-34, and the Cardinal didn't back off in the fourth. Stanford went 10-of-16 in the final frame while USC got some bright spots with the first points of the day from Amaya Oliver, nice finishes from Jordan Sanders and the final word from Shalexxus Aaron on a 3-pointer that wrapped the game as a 92-53 Stanford victory.