ICYMI: A career best night for Smith!
@k3nnedynicole came to play against Illinois. With a career record night in both points (20) and blocks (6) this dual threat and @jerseymikes Naismith Women’s College POY Watch List @USCWBB player showed she’s something special!
Video: @WomensHoops_USA
USC picked up its fourth win over a ranked opponent in convincing fashion, riding the production of four starters—Jazzy Davidson, Kara Dunn, Kennedy Smith, and Londynn Jones—who combined for 75 points in an 81–69 victory over No. 8 Iowa. Given where the Trojans had been trending, it was arguably their most important win of the season.
Coming into the matchup, USC had dropped six of its last seven games, with five of those losses decided by single digits. Late-game execution, particularly in the fourth quarter, had been the recurring issue.
That pattern showed up earlier in the season against No. 24 Notre Dame, when USC fell by two on a last-second jumper after being outscored 15–8 in the final period. Against Oregon, the Trojans surrendered a 58–45 lead entering the fourth and were outscored 26–8, losing 71–66. Minnesota followed a similar script, as USC led by as many as 13 in the third quarter before losing by one. Most recently, No. 7 Michigan outscored USC 20–9 in the fourth to pull away for a six-point win.
Against Iowa, the fourth quarter again tilted toward the opponent—USC was outscored 18–11—but context mattered. Nine of Iowa’s 18 points came in the final two minutes, with the game already out of reach.
Dunn continued her recent tear, posting 25 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists for her seventh straight 20-point performance. Over that stretch, she’s averaging (24.8) points per game. Freshman Jazzy Davidson added 21 points and eight assists.
Jones finished with 17 points, while Smith chipped in 12, marking the first Big Ten game this season in which both reached double figures. That balance matters for USC, especially given how limited the scoring production has been outside of its core group. On most nights, the Trojans need Jones and Smith to combine for around 25 points.