BERKELEY - Behind a strong defensive effort, the California women's lacrosse team hung in with No. 13 USC Friday night from California Memorial Stadium, but the Trojans outlasted the Golden Bears for a 10-5 victory. 

The Bears fell to 4-6, 0-4 on the season. 

Kirsten Swanson tallied a hat trick, Lauren Hickman scored Cal's other two goals, while Swanson, Eliza Christman and Nikki Zaccaro registered an assist each. 

USC's bread and butter is a stingy defense, having entered the game ranking first in the Pac-12 in caused turnovers. The Bears had to rely on their offensive depth to get on the scoreboard. 

"They have a really great defense, head coach Brooke Eubanks said. "They work really well as a unit where they cover the first, second and third options. So it's really about being disciplined and trying to find that fourth option."

USC went up 2-0 in the first 10 minutes of the contest, and took a commanding 6-1 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. The Bears got one back before halftime, but the Trojans still led, 7-2 at the break. 

In the second half, the Bears kept USC off the scoreboard for 15 minutes, cutting the deficit to three at one point. Cal and USC traded goals towards the end of the game before the Trojans eventually prevailed. 

Jenny Wilkens was tested early and often as USC boasted 18 shots on goal, and Wilkens stopped eight of them. She has now collected eight saves in 30 of 43 career games. Wilkens also notched three ground balls, giving her 105 for her career, which ranks fourth all-time in school history. Colleen O'Mara (2001-04) is third with 108. 

"It took Jenny a little bit to hit her stride, but when she did, she was unstoppable," Eubanks said. "She made some huge point-blank saves. She made some huge saves off of the eight-meter shots, which is really a momentum builder, as well. She really made some adjustments. She was making high and low saves. It wasn't as if she had a hole in her game. She was able to make the saves from all over the cage."

Zaccaro's five draws helped Cal gain the advantage over USC in that category, 10-7.

"Nikki did an awesome job," Eubanks said. "She used her size to her advantage. Typically, you have tall draw takers, and she's small. She was able to put it in a space where either our two circle people were able to get it or herself. She was able to put it in position where she was first to the ball. It's a lot of skill, but it's also a lot of attitude and determination to get the ball."

Meredith Haggerty scooped up two draws, giving her 113 for her career. She now ranks sixth all-time in school history. Chloe Landry is fifth with 117. 

Cal returns to action on Sunday against Arizona State at noon from California Memorial Stadium.