Trojans Take Over: USC Ends Four-Game Slide With a Ruthless 83–57 Beatdown

Kara Dunn puts up a season high of 29 points against Purdue. - Photo by Jackie Rae

Heading into Sunday’s matchup against Purdue, USC was looking to snap a four-game skid.

From the opening tip, the Trojans imposed their tempo — crisp ball movement, aggressive rebounding, and stifling defense — thanks in part to the return of Kennedy Smith, who finished with six assists, two steals, two blocked shots, and three rebounds.

With each play, USC played with a renewed sense of connection and intensity — something head coach Lindsay Gottlieb credited, in part, to Smith's return.

“She prevents the other team from doing what they do well,” Gottlieb said, noting Smith’s impact in both physicality and presence.

That presence allowed the Women of Troy set the tone early, outplaying Purdue in nearly every phase of the game. Kara Dunn led the way with 16 points and four rebounds, helping USC build a 15-point advantage by halftime.

Malia Samuels made the first statement of the half, jumping a passing lane for a quick steal and delivering an on-target assist to Jazzy Davidson — stretching USC’s lead to 20. The Trojans’ ball pressure smothered Purdue’s rhythm, preventing the Boilermakers from finding any consistent scoring footing.

Dunn continued to bully her way inside, piling up bucket after bucket and finishing the third with the final basket and 25 points — giving USC a commanding 46–42 lead.

There was no slowing down in the fourth. A deep three from Londynn Jones forced Purdue to burn a timeout as the Trojans ballooned the lead to 29 and began pushing the game out of reach. Dunn continued to dominate on both ends, ultimately closing out the game with a season-high 29 points — a performance that drew immediate praise from coach Gottlieb.

“Kara Dunn is a leader,” Gottlieb said. “There was never a conversation about me — it was always the team.”

There was plenty of praise to go around, including Jones, who had an impressive showing with 15 points, while Davidson followed with 13. Beyond individual stat lines, the Trojans put together one of their most complete offensive performances of the season.

USC shot 47% from the field and 35% from three-point range, showing noticeable improvement in shot selection. Their 25 assists and 25 points off the bench underscored a level of balance and cohesion they’ve been searching for over the past month.

By the final buzzer, USC had not only snapped its four-game slide with a score of 83-57, but had done so in emphatic, statement-making fashion — a win that may well serve as a reset point as the Trojans look to build momentum heading deeper into conference play.