The USC Trojans came to town for a Pac-12 women’s basketball game Sunday with some noticeable height limitations and the intent, if necessary, to play only a few of those suited out in uniform.
As it turned out, that’s all Southern California needed in a 58-47 victory over the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center.
USC (13-4, 3-3), essentially using only six players for the vast majority of the contest, grabbed the lead at the end of the second quarter and the closest the Utes could make the spread the rest of the way was four points.
After losing a close, high-scoring game to UCLA on Friday night, Utah (12-5, 3-3) squandered a chance to stay in the top portion of the Pac-12 conference standings.
“For me, I’m ticked off,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said. “That was not us. For as well as we played on Friday, to play that poorly less than 48 hours later is a little bit of a head-scratcher.
“We came out flat and tentative and just got outplayed from an aggressiveness standpoint,” Roberts added. “I don’t understand.”
Senior center Kristen Simon was the tallest starter for the visitors, but she stood only 6-foot-2. But Simon scored 14 points and snagged seven rebounds while playing 38 of the 40 minutes.
“She did a nice job. She’s always playing people who are six inches taller and does a great job,” Southern Cal coach Mark Trakh said.
Starting at center for Utah, though, wasn’t 6-foot-6 senior Emily Potter. She sat during the tip for being late to a film session. Instead, it was 6-5 freshman Maurane Corbin who got the nod.
Neither Simon nor anyone else for the Trojans got into foul trouble at any point in the game. USC committed only eight fouls total as a team and no individual had more than two.
“In terms of their defense, they played hard. They’ve got great athletes and they’re pretty good at turning people over,” Roberts said. “You have to give them credit. We had been averaging 80 points and they held us to 47. It’s kind of embarrassing.”
The Utes turned the ball more than twice as much as USC (21-10) and many were telegraphed passes that were easily picked off.
“Before, during and after (the game),” said Roberts on addressing the issue with her players on Sunday.
Tied at 21-21 after Utes’ senior Tanaeya Boclair converted a three-point play six minutes into the second quarter, the Trojans’ Aliyah Mazyck drove to the hoop for a basket and that started a 9-2 run that lasted until half.
Mazyck played 39 minutes and led all scorers with 20. Sadie Edwards added 16 for the victors.
Utah had only one player make it into double figures, Megan Huff with 10 points.
The Utes closed to within six on a 10-foot jump shot by Huff with 2:55 left before Edwards countered with a layup as Southern Cal scored the last five points of the contest.
“It’s a long season and we’re just getting going here in the Pac-12. That was only the sixth game of 18, so we’re a third of the way through,” Roberts said. “There’s no need to sound the alarm and jump off the boat. We’ve just got to, I think, get a little ticked off and regroup.”
USC 58, Utah 47<br>• USC claims the lead for good with a 9-2 run at the end of the secondquarter and never is ahead by less than four the rest of the way.<br>• The Trojans, who have four starters play at least 37 minutes, are led by Aliyah Mazyck’s 20 points and Sadie Edwards’ 16.<br>• Utah, which also lost at home to UCLA on Friday night, is paced in scoring by Megan Huff’s 10 points.