USC Women Face Unbeaten Nebraska in Big Ten Basketball Showdown

The No. 17 USC women’s basketball team will jump back into Big Ten play against the unbeaten No. 20 Nebraska Cornhuskers. After a week off, the Trojans (9-3 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) are itching to keep their momentum going, especially after their hard-fought win over former Pac-12 rival Cal.

This next game looks like a serious test for USC, mainly because they’ll be without star Juju Watkins. Nebraska (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) hasn’t lost yet and brings a potent offense that’s sure to test USC’s tough defense.

Honestly, this matchup could set the tone for both squads as conference play heats up. There’s a lot riding on it, and you can feel the energy building.

USC’s Recent Performance and Defensive Prowess

The Trojans have shown real grit this season, especially in their win against Cal. Even though they struggled in the third quarter, their defense pulled them through.

To be able to take a punch in that third quarter and not be at our best and come back and stick together and find a way says a lot, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said after the game.

Key Defensive Stats

USC’s defense has really anchored their success. Here are some stats that jump out:

• Blocks per game: 7 (freshman Jazzy Davidson leads with 2.5 per game)
• Steals per game: 9.7 (eighth in the conference)
• Opponent 3-point shooting: Cal went just 1-for-11 from deep
• Turnovers forced: 18 against Cal

Gottlieb highlighted defense after the win, saying, Mainly, it was defensively. And we started getting back into tempo, and we got some things in transition. We had a couple transition looks that didn’t go, but it felt like the tide was turning back and that was keyed by our defense and the togetherness and effort of our players.

Nebraska’s Unbeaten Streak and Offensive Firepower

Nebraska’s on a tear, climbing three spots in the Dec. 22 AP poll after stretching their perfect run to 12 games. Their only Big Ten game so far? A dominant 101-83 win over Penn State.

The Cornhuskers have a balanced attack, with several players able to step up and drive the offense. It’s not just a one-woman show over there.

Offensive Leaders

Nebraska averages 89.6 points per game, which is wild. Sophomore guard Britt Prince leads them, putting up 18.6 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 61.2% from both the field and deep.

Head coach Amy Williams gave Prince her due: Britt Prince carries our team at times, but we can turn to a lot of different places to get production.

Other key contributors include:

• Jessica Petrie: Dropped 17 points against California Baptist
• Petra Bozan: Had a game-high 14 against Illinois State
• Callin Hake: Put up 17 against Omaha
• Eliza Maupin: Adds 8.4 points and 4.4 boards per game off the bench

Williams pointed out the team’s versatility: What I’ve learned is that we can turn a lot of different places when we need production.

USC’s Potential and Growth

USC’s still figuring things out, and this Nebraska game should reveal a lot about their ceiling. Seven of USC’s 12 players have Big Ten experience, but five of those are underclassmen.

We’re still a young team, we’re still growing together, Gottlieb admitted. I also think we’ve got a lot of dynamic players.

Key Players to Watch

Jazzy Davidson leads in blocks, but others like Londynn Jones, Kennedy Smith, and Kara Dunn play big roles on offense. Davidson also tops the team in scoring at 16.8 points a game, showing she can impact both ends.

USC needs to keep up their defensive intensity and find some offensive consistency if they want to hang with Nebraska. Their resilience and team-first attitude will matter a lot as Big Ten play rolls on.

Game Details

The highly anticipated game between USC and Nebraska tips off Monday at noon. It’s happening at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.

You can catch the action on Big Ten Plus or tune in to ESPN LA 710 for the radio call. Feels like one of those matchups that might just set the mood for the rest of the conference season.