No. 17 Trojans Journey to No. 20 Nebraska for Ranked Big Ten Showdown

LOS ANGELES – After opening Big Ten Conference play with a win over No. 21 Washington on Dec. 7, the No. 17 Trojans resume convention competitors this week in opposition to No. 20 Nebraska on Monday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. CT at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. USC will play its second highway sport of the season this week because the Women of Troy face their sixth AP Top-25 opponent of the season.
 
The Trojans are contemporary off a gutsy 61-57 victory over Cal on the 2025 Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic and look to maintain the momentum occurring Monday night. 
 
SERIES RECORD: 4-5
LAST MEETING: W, 75-55 (January 1, 2025) • Los Angeles, Calif. // Galen Center
HEAD COACH: Amy Williams (tenth Season at Nebraska (170-123); nineteenth Season Overall (363-232)
CONFERENCE:  Big Ten Conference
STREAK: W, 1-0
TV/STREAM:  Big Ten Plus 
LISTEN: ESPN LA 710 AM / USC Gameday App / ESPNLA App 
 
A WIN WOULD 

• Be the 886th win in program historical past (885-569)
• Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb‘s 103rd win at USC (102-39)
• Be head coach Lindsay Gottlieb‘s 337th win as a head coach (336-167)
• Help USC enhance to 2-0 in Big Ten Play
• Be USC’s third ranked win of the season (2-3 presently in opposition to ranked opponents)
• Be USC’s fifth win over Nebraska and produce the all-time file between the 2 applications to 5-5.
• Mark the second straight yr the Trojans open Big Ten play 2-0 or higher.
• Snap Nebraska’s undefeated streak (12-0 this season)  

SCOUTING NEBRASKA

• The Cornhuskers are ranked No. 20 in the latest AP Poll and No. 24 within the Coaches Poll. 
• Nebraska has scored not less than 80 factors in every of its 12 video games to open 2025-26, together with three 100-point scoring efforts.
• Nebraska is considered one of simply three remaining NCAA Division I colleges with undefeated males’s and ladies’s basketball applications.
• As a crew, NU ranks tenth nationally in scoring offense (89.6 ppg), whereas rating fourth in subject objective share (.522) and eleventh in scoring margin (32.9 ppg).
• NU ranks eighth in assists per sport (21.3 apg) and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.73).

USC VS. NEBRASKA SERIES HISTORY

• USC and Nebraska are 4-5 all-time 
• Last yr, the Trojans snapped the Big Red’s five-game sequence profitable streak with a 75-55 win on New Year’s Day 2025 on the Galen Center. So. JuJu Watkins led the No. 4 Trojans with a game-high 26 factors whereas drawing 12 fouls. Kiki Iriafen added 14 factors. Logan Nissley led Nebraska with 14 factors on 4-of-5 three-point taking pictures, whereas Britt Prince added 10 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists.
• The first assembly between the faculties got here with a 72-70 USC win in Los Angeles on Jan. 12, 1977. 
• Monday’s sport will mark the fifth time USC has confronted the Huskers as a ranked crew, whereas it is going to be the fourth time the Huskers have been ranked on the tip. It would be the second time each groups had been ranked within the prime 25 at sport time, becoming a member of the 1993 NCAA Tournament matchup.

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE

• As a squad, USC is fourth nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks per sport (7.0)
• As a squad, USC is twenty seventh nationally in scoring protection, permitting opponents simply 54.2 ppg on common. 
• FR Jazzy Davidson presently leads the Trojans in each main statistical class (16.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.0 spg and a couple of.5 bpg). Davidson is the one participant amongst energy 4 convention gamers to steer a squad in all 5 main classes.  
• The freshman additionally leads USC in minutes performed, averaging 32.7
• Davidson has recorded 11 double-figuring scoring video games this season, together with 9 straight video games since Nov. 18 
• Davidson ranks eleventh nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks (30). Standing at 6’1″, she can be the shortest within the top-15 with such numbers. The freshman is eleventh nationally and leads the Big Ten in blocks per sport (2.50). 
• Davidson is 2nd within the Big Ten and nineteenth nationally in subject objective makes an attempt (199). She can be third amongst all D1 freshman in subject objective makes an attempt (199). 
• SO Kennedy Smith ranks twenty fourth nationally and is tied for seventh within the Big Ten in help/turnover ratio at 2.80 (42-15)
• SR Londynn Jones has led USC in scoring throughout 4 video games this season, coming off the bench in every of these 4 outtings. 
• USC has performed simply 1 highway sport this season, having confronted Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. All of USC’s different video games up thus far have been performed at both the Galen Center (7-1) or at impartial websites (2-1). 
• The Trojans are holding opponents to simply 54.3 on 35.3 p.c taking pictures regardless of taking part in 5 top-25 groups via 12 video games. 

LAST TIME OUT 

• USC notched its forty fifth win over California on the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic, beating the Golden Bears 61-57 within the eightieth all-time assembly between the previous convention foes.
• Despite a season excessive 24 fouls, together with two foul-outs, the Trojans managed to grind out the gritty win and shut out nonconference play 8-3.
• FR Jazzy Davidson scored a career-high 24 factors along with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring efficiency and her twelfth of the season, including 4 rebounds, 4 blocks and matching her profession greatest with three three-pointers. 
• SR Kara Dunn tallied 15 factors and tied with JR Gerda Raulušaityte for a team-high six rebounds
• SO Kennedy Smith contributed 11 factors, two assists and two steals
• USC restricted California to 1 made three pointer (9 p.c 3PT FG) 

B1G OPENER 

• The Women of Troy erased an early deficit to beat No. 21 Washington 59-50 on Dec. 7 and enhance to 1-0 in Big Ten play 
• USC recorded a season-high 50 rebounds. The Trojans additionally led the Huskies in bench factors (19-6), paint factors (30-24) and quick break factors (12-7)
• FR Jazzy Davidson notched her second profession double-double with a profession and game-high 22 factors and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard additionally contributed 4 assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers. 
• JR Gerda Raulušaityte scored a career-high eight factors. The ahead additionally had eight rebounds, shot 100% from the sphere and had a game-high +15 score
• SO Kennedy Smith tallied 13 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, two blocks and team-high two steals 

NONCONFERENCE RECAP 

• USC wrapped up nonconference play 8-3, together with one win over a ranked opponent (No. 9 NC State). The Trojans three losses had been to No. 1 UConn, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 24 Notre Dame (2 level margin of defeat).
• The Trojans averaged 71.7 ppg in nonconference play. 
• USC defeated Cal 61-57 to shut out nonconference play 8-3
• The Women of Troy completed nonconference play 6-1 at residence, 2-1 at impartial websites and 0-1 on the highway. 
• FR Jazzy Davidson led the Trojans in each statistical class in nonconference play – 16.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.2 spg, 2.5 bpg and 32:2 mpg.
• SR Londynn Jones scored a profession and game-high 28 factors and 11 made subject targets in opposition to Cal Poly. 
• FR Jazzy Davidson scored a career-high 24 factors along with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring efficiency and her twelfth of the season, including 4 rebounds, 4 blocks and matching her profession greatest with three three-pointers. 
• SO Kennedy Smith led USC in factors (16) and rebounds (7) in opposition to No. 1 UConn. Smith additionally led USC in scoring in opposition to No. 2 South Carolina (12) 

DAVIDSON’S DOMINANCE

• ESPN named Davidson No. 1 within the Dec. 18 girls’s school basketball freshman impression rankings (Davidson was additionally No. 1 preseason) 
• Davidson presently leads the Trojans in each main statistical classes (16.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.0 spg and a couple of.4 bpg) 
• Davidson has recorded ten double determine scoring video games this season (seven straight video games) 
• The newcomer put up 14 factors (second main scorer), had 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in her collegiate debut
• Against NC State, Davidson put up 21 factors, had 5 blocks, 4 assists, three steals and was good from the free throw line (2-2). Davidson delivered the profitable basket in USC’s victory over NC State because the freshman made a quick break driving layup with 8 seconds remaining within the sport. 
• Davidson posted a breakthrough efficiency versus Tennessee Tech, recording her first double-double as she completed with 20 factors (9-of-14 FG) and a career-high 16 rebounds. Her 16 boards not solely led all gamers but additionally marked probably the most by a USC freshman since Rayah Marshall’s efficiency in opposition to Texas Southern on Dec. 18, 2021. Davidson additionally chipped in 4 assists and two blocks to spherical out the trouble.
• Davidson stayed sizzling on Nov. 28, tallying 18 factors together with 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and a game-high three blocks within the win over Pepperdine.
• Against Washington, Davidson notched her second profession double-double with a game-high 22 factors and team-high 12 rebounds. The freshman guard additionally contributed 4 assists, two blocks and a team-high two made three-pointers. 
• Against Cal, Davidson scored a career-high 24 factors along with her ninth consecutive double-figuring scoring efficiency and her twelfth of the season, including 4 rebounds, 4 blocks and matching her profession greatest with three three-pointers.  

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT DAVIDSON

• “She plays well with the ball in her hands, and she makes good decisions, she makes great shots. Just a high-level player. Like, a really high-level player that doesn’t really play like a freshman.” – South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley
• “Jazzy Davidson has no weaknesses in her game and she’s just a freshman. USC has another superstar.” – NFL Network/SI.com, Kendell Hollowell
• “Jazzy Davidson was the No. 1 overall recruit for a reason. She can do everything. An instant star for USC.” – NFL Network/SI.com, Kendell Hollowell
• “It was a big night for freshman Jazzy Davidson, who’s currently my frontrunner for NFOY.” –  On3 reporter Talia Goodman after USC defeated Washington
• “She’s probably the best freshman in the country at this point based on what has happend on the court, not the hype part.” – UConn head coach Geno Auriemma

JONES OFF THE BENCH

• Appearing in her first ever sport as a Trojan, UCLA switch Londynn Jones led USC in scoring, placing up 16 factors off the bench. The senior got here off the bench for 18 minutes and had three rebounds, three assists and two steals.  She was additionally 4-4 from the charity stripe. 
• Making her Trojan debut, UCLA senior switch Londynn Jones has been an offensive powerhouse for USC off the bench. Against New Mexico State, Jones led USC in scoring, placing up 16 factors, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. On Sunday, Jones’ 19 factors off the bench had been essential in USC’s 69-68 victory over No. 9 NC State. The senior additionally had three rebounds and three assists. 
• Against Cal Poly, Jones put up a profession excessive 28 factors, whereas additionally contributing 2 rebounds and 4 steals in simply 23 minutes performed. 
• Through 12 video games (11 coming off the bench), Jones averages 12.4 factors, 1.6 RBG and 1.8 APG in 22.7 minutes/sport (avg). 
• The senior obtained her first begin as a Trojan in opposition to Pepperdine on Nov. 28, recording six factors, 5 assists and one rebound. Against Saint Mary’s, Jones put up a team-high 17 factors.
• Against Cal Poly, Jones posted a career-high 28 factors, whereas additionally contributing 4 steals and two rebounds. 

SIGNING DAY SUCCESS 
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, USC girls’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb introduced the signing of Saniyah Halland Sitaya Fagan, two of probably the most nationally famend prospects within the Class of 2026. Hall, the No. 1ranked recruit within the nation, and Fagan, a five-star worldwide standout from Australia, additional elevate a USC program already rising among the many prime tiers of girls’s school basketball. 
 
Hall turns into USC’s third No. 1 ranked recruit in 4 years, persevering with this system’s unprecedented run of elite recruiting success. 
 
Most lately, Fagan gained the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup with Australia, additionally being named the MVP of the Tournament. The incoming Trojan was named Basketball Victoria’s (Centre of Excellence) 2025 Female Junior Athlete of the Year, a major award recognizing her breakout yr.