LOS ANGELES (AP) – Destiny Littleton had 18 points and six assists as Southern California picked up a program-clinching 55-46 victory over No. 2 Stanford on Sunday.
Okako Adika had 11 points with 11 rebounds and Taylor Bigby and Kayla Williams added nine points apiece as the Trojans put their defense on hold late to snap a 14-game losing streak against the Cardinal, who had won 51 straight against the unranked. opponents.
It was USC’s first win over Stanford since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament.
USC (13-4, 3-3 Pac-12) held Stanford to four points in the first quarter, its lowest at any time this season. The Trojans led by 11 points early in the fourth quarter before closing out the victory just eight days after a heartbreaking loss to then-No. 12 UCLA.
Cameron Brink had 11 points and 14 rebounds for Stanford (17-2, 5-1), which ended its 12-game winning streak. The loss also ended the Cardinal’s 39-game winning streak against Pac-12 competition.
Haley Jones had 12 rebounds for Stanford, but was held to eight points after entering at 13.3 per game.
Stanford held USC to 27.3% shooting from the field, but the Trojans made up the difference, going 8-of-19 from 3-point range and 17-of-26. Stanford was 4 of 21 from distance and 8 of 10 from the line.
USC looked to task early with a suffocating defense that forced six turnovers in the first quarter and held Stanford to 2-of-10 shooting in the opening 10 minutes while going on an 11-4 run.
Stanford rallied to tie the game at 19-19 with 1:09 left in the first half before a five-point spurt by USC put the Trojans up 24-19 at halftime.
USC issued a statement to close out the third quarter. Clarice Akunwafo blocks Stanford’s Lauren Betts with three seconds left in regulation. Williams used the time to get into the front court and hit a 24-footer for a 43-33 lead, USC’s largest of the game.
USC held Stanford to near single digits in the fourth quarter as well, allowing 13, four of which came in the final seconds. The only other time Stanford has been held by single digits in a quarter this season was a seven-point fourth quarter in its only loss on Nov. 20 against South Carolina.
THE PROCESS
Stanford. After a win over No. 8 UCLA followed by an upset loss at USC, the Cardinal face another challenge with a home test against No. 10 Utah on Friday to snap a four-game home streak.
USC. The Pac-12’s top defense (52.0 points per game entering Sunday) is making more of a statement. USC has given up 10 first-quarter points to Cal (six) and Stanford (four) in three days.
NEXT
Stanford. Friday at home against Utah
USC. Friday at Washington State
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