USC’s schedule has featured a jumble of mid-major and mid-minor opponents visiting the Galen Center, lining up for one-sided thrashings. Sunday was no different when Elon came to town, with the Trojans (10-1) defeating theirColonial Athletic Assn. foes handily 88-30.
But what could coach Lindsay Gottlieb still learn about USC before traveling to face No. 2 Connecticut and star guard Paige Bueckers later this week? An early timeout could signal what still needs to be worked on.
“They know what the expectation is, and I think they want to rise to that expectation,” Gottlieb said about using her only timeout of the game when the score was knotted 4-4. “There’s not anyone not trying to do what we want to do, so when I see it early — like, ‘Hey, right there, that’s not good enough’ — it’s my amount of respect for our starting group that they can fix that quickly, they can’t allow that.”
Gottlieb watched an early Elon run after the Trojans allowed two open transition shots to the Phoenix (4-5) — who’d faced only one major conference team — within the first three minutes. After Gottlieb settled her team during the break, USC continued to do what they’d accomplished against the likes of Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly and Fresno State: dominate.
Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins and graduate forward Kiki Iriafen scored in double digits for the 11th time this season, leading the team with 26 and 18 points, respectively.
Toying with small lineups — moving freshman guard Avery Howell into the fold in the spot of a forward — the Trojans forced 12 turnovers in the first half, holding their foes to the lowest score they’d allowed in a half this season: 12 points.
Elon‘s 30 points were the least USC has given up this season. The Trojans held Elon to 21.2% shooting from the field, while making 46.6% of their shots.
“Every play informs the game, no matter if it shows up in the stat sheet or not,” said freshman guard Kayleigh Heckel about the team’s hustle effort. “We just try to work as hard as we can. Both offensively and defensively.”
When the game began 30 minutes late after a power outage in University Park, it was the Trojans’ guards who ultimately provided the power Sunday.
A season-high four-steal performance from graduate guard Talia von Oelhoffen helped USC force 25 turnovers, with the Trojans scoring 36 points off those turnovers. Heckel continued to make hustle plays, leading to acrobatic layups, two offensive rebounds, four steals and 14 points.
“I’ve seen it throughout my career that mistakes are gonna happen, but we’d rather there be mistakes of progression,” Gottlieb said of Heckel. “Be you, play hard, play fast and then the rest will come. And I think she’s really bought into that, with these last couple games really honing in on the defensive end.”
Heckel had three of her steals in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, finishing one of the three possessions by weaving through three defenders on the way to the hoop. At that point, USC led 73-25 with eight minutes to go.
Von Oelhoffen, a graduate transfer from Oregon State, has filled a leading guard role on the Trojans alongside Heckel, sinking multiple three-pointers for the fifth time this season.
The former two-time All-Pac-12 honoree said that when it comes to facing Connecticut, the team’s defensive aptitude will allow them to thrive. USC fell to now-No. 8 Notre Dame by 13 points when it last faced a ranked opponent on Nov. 23.
“I think just building that confidence and that ball pressure and seeing what we’re capable of,” von Oelhoffen said. “Obviously we’re gonna start facing All-American veteran guards, but [it’s] just to build that confidence.”
On the glass, forward-center Rayah Marshall grabbed a season-high and game-high 14 rebounds. The senior has now tallied double-digit rebounds in three of her last four games.
Gottlieb’s focus turns to Connecticut on Saturday, when the Trojans will face the No. 2 Huskies in Harford, Conn.
