California Baptist University
0-9,0-0WAC
#6 USC
7-1,0-0Big Ten
Lancers Face #6 USC Trojans In Los Angeles
12/3/2024 11:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES - California Baptist University took on one of the preseason favorites to make a deep run in March, the University of Southern California. The sixth-ranked Trojans handled business as one of the best teams in the nation, cruising to a 94-52 home win in the Galen Center on Tuesday night.
Grace Schmidt led the valiant Lancer effort offensively, notching team-highs with 12 points and seven rebounds. Claudia Fiel was the only other Lancer to reach double figures with 10 points and a trio of boards and dimes.
The Trojans wasted no time opening up a controlling lead, going up 14-2 before the first media timeout and capping the first quarter with a 29-11 advantage. USC kept the hot hand into the second quarter and went into the halftime break with a 50-20 lead.
The Lancers came out of the break with a new resolve and put up 32 points equally split between the third and fourth quarters to reach the final score mark. The Lancers did not give in to their highly ranked opponents, continuing to pressure the Trojans and star guard JuJu Watkins, who played well into the fourth quarter.
The Lancers remain on the road, traveling north this weekend to take on Saint Mary's of the West Coast Conference. The Gaels will face San Jose State on Wednesday, so their 4-3 record will change before tipoff. SMC claimed the win in the only previous matchup between these two teams, a high-scoring 88-81 decision in Moraga on November 12, 2022. This year's contest is set for Saturday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m.
