LOS ANGELES – USC showed why it came into the game ranked seventh in the nation in field goal percentage defense holding Cal to a season-low 27.3 percent shooting and 14 points in the first half. The Bears turned the ball over a season-high 20 times, although they only committed two in the second half. Cal finished the game with season-lows of 30 percent shooting and just four made 3-pointers. Evelien Lutje Schipholt led all Bears with 14 points.
 
"I thought we were really uncharacteristically bad," Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. "It was just a rough night for us. I don't think we came ready to play. We know we can't do that in this conference."
 
USC opened the game with a 13 - 0 run aided by six Cal turnovers, before the Bears ended it with a Jayda Curry layup at the 4:43 mark. A buzzer beater 3-pointer by Mia Mastrov was ruled no good, making the deficit 19-6 going into the second quarter.
 
Cal hit a bucket to open the second quarter but then allowed the Trojans to go on a 12-0 run fueled by seven Bear turnovers. Cal eventually was able to stop the run with a Leilani Mcintosh layup at the 3:15 mark. That was followed up by back-to-back buckets by Peanut Tuitele, however the deficit was still 33-14 going into the break.  
 
Cal caught fire to open the second half scoring on five consecutive possessions including a 3-pointer by Curry to cut the lead to 13 points, but USC had an answer every time. USC answered with an 11-2 run that was eventually ended by a 3-pointer from Kemery Martin, who scored the Bears' final eight points of the third quarter, which still left them down 50-33 going into the final frame.
 
The Bears were unable to cut into the deficit any further in the fourth quarter shooting just 22.2 percent in the period allowing USC to coast to the victory.
 
Curry's 3-pointer extended her streak of consecutive regular-season games with a made three to 38 games which tied Kelsey Plum's (Washington) mark for the second longest streak of all-time in the Pac-12.
 
Cal got into foul trouble early and often leading to 22 free throw attempts for USC compared to just six for the Bears. The Trojans were led by Destiny Littleton's 18 points and a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds by Rayah Marshall.
 
The Bears stay in Los Angeles to take on No. 8 UCLA on Sunday at noon.
 
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