USC women’s basketball was set up to fail on Saturday night against Ohio State. What do we mean by that? The Big Ten Conference gave USC a terrible schedule. The Trojans had to play four games in 10 days, with this Saturday night game versus Ohio State being the last of the four games. USC played Ohio State after having had to fly from Madison, Wisconsin, where the Trojans played on Wednesday night. Ohio State was already in Los Angeles, having played UCLA on Wednesday night. OSU didn’t have to travel, USC did. USC had only two days in between games for a week and a half. Usually, teams get at least three days off between games at least once a week. If a team plays Sunday, it might then play Thursday. If a team plays Wednesday, it might then play on Sunday. USC had to play on short rest, and the game versus No. 8 Ohio State was at the end of the long and grueling sequence.
It would have been very understandable if USC women’s basketball failed, sinking into quicksand due to mental and physical fatigue from accumulated travel in the geographically expanded Big Ten. USC knew how big this Ohio State game was, but the Trojans could have been physically exhausted. It could have come crashing down on them.
It did not. In a superb defensive performance, USC hammered Ohio State 84-63. The Trojans were sloppy in this game, but their effort and toughness reigned supreme. Let’s break open this game and look at its many dimensions:
Rebounding
We start here. USC grabbed 62 rebounds to just 30 for Ohio State. Offensive boards: 19-6 Trojans. This was a bloodbath on the backboard. USC’s hunger and effort were elite, and that covered up USC’s other flaws and limitations.
Defense
Ohio State shot 29 percent from the field, 2 of 11 (18 percent) on 3-pointers. USC’s length and size deterred and disrupted Ohio State shooters all night long. Ohio State could not generate clean looks near the basket. The Buckeyes were challenged and stopped when they got within five or six feet of the rim. This was a defensive clinic.
Kiki Iriafen
Kiki Iriafen played like a star. She had to leave for several minutes in the third quarter due to foul trouble, but when she was on the floor, she dominated Ohio State. She got the ball deep in the paint and hit a few mid-range jump shots as well. She finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds and was the best player on the floor. This was why she came to USC.
Kayleigh Heckel
The backup guard was thrown into the game in the first quarter after USC started the game with some sluggish offensive possessions. Heckel settled down the team and the offense and played a smart, steady game. Six points, three blocked shots, and a lot of leadership from Heckel provided immense value to USC.
Avery Howell
USC’s other freshman reserve provided 6 points, 4 rebounds, and strong defense. The maturity of USC’s top-ranked freshman class showed up tonight.
Kennedy Smith
USC’s freshman starter was a menace for Ohio State. Smith was all over the floor and the glass, posting 13 points, 13 boards, 5 assists, and 2 blocked shots. This was a complete game for Smith, who has been a dependable player all season long and annoys opponents with her energy.
Rayah Marshall
USC’s master of the middle anchored the Trojans’ defense in the paint and also pounded the glass for putback baskets. When it was all said and done against Ohio State, Marshall had collected 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots, a solid night at the office for an elite defensive player.
Talia von Oelhoffen
TVO helped Oregon State make the Elite Eight last season. She is a terrific defender. She hasn’t been scoring as much as USC would like, but when she plays defense the way she did against Ohio State, we can all appreciate why she is important to this team. Von Oelhoffen posted 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot. Getting 8 points is a bonus when she is defending at such a high level. Ohio State could not figure her out in this game.
JuJu Watkins
JuJu Watkins is struggling on offense. She missed her first 11 field goal attempts and didn’t hit one until the 2:02 mark of the third quarter. USC beat Ohio State by 21 despite Watkins’ difficult shooting night (5 of 21; she was 2 of 16 early in the fourth quarter). Imagine what USC can do when Watkins is scoring efficiently.
All of that aside, Watkins still gives A-plus effort on the court. She grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out 3 assists. She helped USC in ways other than scoring, but there’s no question she has to improve her offense as USC goes forward.
Lindsay Gottlieb
The Trojans’ coach had a great game on the bench. She outcoached Ohio State’s Kevin McGuff. USC was able to throw the ball over the top of the Ohio State defense. Gottlieb correctly realized USC had more size and length. Post entries were the best way to attack the OSU defense. This helped Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall score a lot of baskets near the rim.
Gottlieb’s move to put Kayleigh Heckel in the game in the first quarter was also important. When Iriafen and Marshall both got into foul trouble, Gottlieb did not bench both players at the same time. She kept one of the two on the floor so that USC would have balance at both ends of the court. Gottlieb’s lineup combinations worked really well in this game. She also had USC ready to play defense. We also remind you that Gottlieb’s ability to rest the starters on Wednesday versus Wisconsin really did pay off in this game. USC looked physically fresh, given the energy the Trojans brought to the court against Ohio State.
UCLA next
UCLA and USC are the only two teams left standing in Big Ten women’s basketball, with the sole possible exception of Michigan State, which visits Los Angeles later this month. UCLA and USC are the only Big Ten teams with fewer than three losses. UCLA is unbeaten heading into Sunday’s game at Oregon. USC has just one loss. The Bruins and Trojans meet on Thursday, February 13, in the Galen Center. The Big Ten championship will be on the line. This is what we all expected before the season began. Much more on this game at Trojans Wire in the coming days. Be sure to watch for our new podcasts and for analyst Cece Clay’s new YouTube posts as well.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC women’s basketball smokes Ohio State, sets up UCLA showdown
