Comeback Effort Comes Up Short As USC Women’s Basketball Falls At WSU 57-54

PULLMAN, WASH. — The USC women's basketball team upped its game in the second half to erase a heavy deficit, but came up just short of a comeback push as the Trojans took a 57-54 loss to Washington State today in Pullman, Wash. USC goes to 10-13 overall and to 3-10 in Pac-12 play with the road loss, while WSU improves to 16-8, 8-5.

USC was hamstrung by over eight minutes of scoring silence in the second quarter, falling behind by 20 before getting buckets to fall at the close of the half to trail 36-22 at the break. The Trojans had shot just 25 percent in those first 20 minutes, while Washington State was hitting at a 60-percent clip while nailing four 3-pointers to keep its visitors at bay. USC would chip away in the next stretch, however, getting to within two in the final 15 seconds although an equalizer would evade the Trojans in the final moments. USC finished the game shooting 33 percent from the floor to WSU's 43 percent, while the Trojans had the edge on the boards 37-34. 

For the sixth straight game, Jordyn Jenkins was USC's top scorer, putting in 18 points and recording her sixth double-double in adding 12 rebounds. Rayah Marshall and Jordan Sanders also continued their double-digit scoring streaks, contributing 14 points apiece for the Trojans. Washington State received a game-high 20 points from Charlisse Leger-Walker along with 15 points from Bella Murekatete and 11 from Johanna Teder.

USC had the Cougars in reach early before WSU edged ahead 11-4 on a 3-pointer and a finish in the paint. Alyson Miura replied quickly with a long one for the Trojans to get USC a boost back into the running. Field goals weren't falling for the Trojans, but free throws were keeping USC alive down the stretch as WSU was up 20-14 at the end of the first. An early bucket from Alissa Pili pulled USC within four, only to see the Cougars cash in on a 16-0 run as USC hit a serious cold snap. Jordan Sanders snapped that slump with a steal and a coast-to-coat finish. That broke up a run of nine straight misses for the Trojans, and boosted confidence to the tune of two more USC baskets before halftime, where the Trojans would trail 36-22 entering the locker room.

The teams were largely in stride in the third, but USC got things going in the last minute and a half, wrapping the frame with six straight points to carve the lead down to single digits. A 3-pointer from Sanders was the final word of the third, and USC was within reach down 50-42 entering the fourth. USC got it to a four-point margin on free throws from Jenkins and jumper from Rayah Marshall, but WSU responded and had its lead back at double digits, up 56-46 with 4:30 remaining in regulation. Coming out of the timeout, Marshall rose up for another jumper and then Sanders buried a big three, making it 56-51 at 2:25. USC carved it down to a two-point and had a look at an equalizer, only to see it rim out and the Trojans got tagged for a foul with seven seconds left. Only one fell, making it 57-54 to give USC a chance at a last look, but the Trojans came up empty and took the tight 57-54 road loss to the Cougars.

NOTABLE:
- With 18 points today, SO Jordyn Jenkins has scored in double digits in 14 straight games.
- With 12 rebounds, Jenkins recorded her sixth career double-double (all this season)
- With two blocks today, FR Rayah Marshall extended her run of games with at least one block to 18 straight. 
- With 14 points, Marshall scored in double digits for the seventh straight game. 
- With 14 points, GS Jordan Sanders scored in double digits for the fourth straight game. 

NEXT:
USC returns to Los Angeles for its final Pac-12 home stand next week, looking for revenge against Utah at 7 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 18) and also against Colorado at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 20) at Galen Center.