Oregon women’s basketball falls at No. 9 USC, snaps 13 game win streak in series

Oregon dominated USC for over seven years, but that reign is over. Grace VanSlooten had 18 points and six rebounds to lead four players in double figures for the Ducks in a 68 54 loss to the No. 9 Trojans Sunday afternoon at the Galen Center. Phillipina Kyei had eight of her 10 points in the first quarter and added 11 rebounds and five assists for Oregon (9 7, 0 3 Pac 12), which saw its 13 game win streak in the series come to an end.

It’s the first time UO opened conference play 0 3 since 2016 17. “For the most part I’m really pleased with this game, much more so than I was on Friday (against UCLA),” Oregon coach Kelly Graves said on postgame radio. “This is a good team. It’s one of the best teams in the country and we went with them toe to toe and unfortunately we just in the end fell short.

Much better job on the boards tonight, much better job of taking care of the ball. They’ve got a couple of really, really good players and they hurt us late.” JuJu Watkins had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists for USC (12 1, 2 1), which got its first win in the series since Jan. 4, 2016. McKenzie Forbes and Rayah Marshall (nine rebounds) each scored 16 points for the Trojans, who took command in the second and third quarters.

Watkins scored eight and Forbes and Marshall each scored five in the fourth quarter. Chance Gray scored seven of her 11 points in the third quarter. VanSlooten scored seven straight to get Oregon within 50 49 with 9:08 to go, but could not close the gap. “I thought Philli had a heck of a game tonight,” Graves said.

“Grace played like a warrior. Sofia (Bell) I thought did a nice job. It was good to have Chance back as well; you could tell she was a little bit rusty, got tired. She hasn’t done anything this whole week. That’s not been easy for her but she stepped in and played a good ballgame.” Even in winning the rebounding battle 35 27, Oregon barely had an advantage in second chance points (6 4) compared to USC’s 19 5 advantage in points off turnovers.

“We’ve got to continue to get better,” Graves said, “but this is something to build on.”.