USC's Hot Shooting Downs Gardner-Webb, 82-41, at the 2011 Junkanoo Jam
November 27, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Freeport, Bahamas - Gardner-Webb battled the Southern California Trojans tight in the first 20 minutes of play, however, USC used 10 three-pointers, including seven in the second half, to down the Runnin' Bulldogs, 82-41, in the two teams' final game of the 2011 Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas.
The Runnin' Bulldogs again started out the contest rather shaky, as GWU had four turnovers in the first five minutes of play, yet kept the Trojans at bay with strong defense as USC held a 6-2 lead heading into the first media timeout at the 15:52 mark.
Out of the media break, the Runnin' Bulldogs took care of the ball and got two big jump shots by way of Anna Dill and Jasmine Dale to outscore the Trojans 5-3 over the next four minutes to trail USC by three at 9-6 with 11:31 to go in the first half.
However, Southern California responded with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to force GWU to call two 30-second timeouts and run out to a double-digit lead at 18-7.
The Runnin' Bulldogs did not back down, but rather answered with a run of their own, scoring the next five points of the contest to cut the USC lead to eight at 20-12 with 7:09 to go before the half.
Foul trouble and inexperience hampered the Runnin' Bulldogs for the rest of the half, as USC finished the opening 20 minutes of play on an 18-8 run to take a 38-20 lead over Gardner-Webb into the halftime break.
In the first half, the height of the Trojans was evident, as USC outscored Gardner-Webb 16-0 in points in the paint and also took advantage of 11 Runnin' Bulldogs turnovers by holding a 16-2 edge in points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
In the second half, the Runnin' Bulldogs couldn't find their offense, as Gardner-Webb's first field goal in the came by way of a jumper from freshman guard Eliana Scanlon at the 11:13 mark. During the drought, the Trojans outscored Gardner-Webb 12-3 to pull out to a 63-23 lead.
Refusing to quit, the Runnin' Bulldogs score 18 points over the final nine minutes of play, as returners Dale and Breynna Winkler accounted for the last nine points in the 82-41 loss.
For the game, USC outscored GWU 34-8 in points in the paint, 31-6 in points off turnovers and 16-3 in second-chance points. The Trojans shot 54.2 percent (32-of-59) from the floor overall, while Gardner-Webb shot 36.6 percent (15-of-41) for the contest.
Dale, who drained a season-high four three-pointers, led GWU with a team-high 14 points, while Winkler added nine points off the bench for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Smith recorded five points, while Scanlon added four points of her own in the loss.
For Southern California, Ashley Corral recorded a game-high 22 points, as she was 6-of-9 from behind the three-point line, while three other Trojans were in double-digits highlighted by 13 points by forward Cassie Harberts.
The 0-6 start is the worst start for GWU since 2003-04 when the Runnin' Bulldogs started the year off 0-10 and is the worst start to a season under head coach Rick Reeves.
Gardner-Webb (0-6) will take a week off before hosting the Wofford College Terriers at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd, as part of a basketball double-header with the men's team in Paul Porter Arena.
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| Box Score: Southern California 82, Gardner-Webb 41 |
