From Tip to Buzzer, USC Sets the Tone in Dominant Win at Purdue
USC didn’t just beat Purdue — they controlled this game from start to finish and never let Purdue settle into any kind of rhythm. From the opening tip, the Trojans dictated pace, applied pressure defensively, and turned stops into scoring opportunities, which is exactly how this team is built to play. The result was an 83–57 win that was less about one hot shooting stretch and more about sustained control on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, USC was sharp and connected all night. The Trojans finished with 83 points on 46.9% shooting and posted an effective field goal percentage of 52.3%, but the bigger story was how the points were created. USC recorded 25 assists on 30 made baskets, an 83.3% assist rate that speaks directly to how well the ball was moving and how committed the group was to making the extra pass. This wasn’t isolation basketball. This was five players reading the defense, attacking gaps, and trusting teammates to finish plays.
USC also consistently put pressure on the rim, scoring 40 points in the paint, and they did major damage in transition with 22 fast break points. When Purdue turned the ball over, USC made them pay, finishing with 30 points off turnovers. That combination of ball movement, rim pressure, and transition scoring made it extremely difficult for Purdue to ever get comfortable defensively, and once the lead started growing, USC never took their foot off the gas.
Defensively, the Trojans were just as locked in. Purdue was held to 57 points, and USC’s defensive rating for the game sat at 81.1. The Trojans forced 10 steals, added 4 blocks, and consistently disrupted passing lanes and timing. On-ball pressure on the perimeter forced rushed decisions, and help defense at the rim took away easy finishes. This was one of those games where Purdue looked uncomfortable trying to run offense, not because they weren’t trying to execute, but because USC never gave them clean looks or easy space to operate.
Kara Dunn led the way offensively and did it with pure efficiency. She finished with 29 points on 12-for-17 shooting and posted a +29 plus/minus. Her scoring came in multiple ways — in transition, on straight-line drives, on cuts, and off ball movement — and none of it felt forced. When USC needed momentum or a response to a Purdue run, Kara was the player who consistently delivered.
Jazzy Davidson’s impact went well beyond scoring. She finished with 13 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 rebounds, along with a +28 plus/minus. Even when the shot wasn’t falling early, she was controlling tempo, creating advantages for teammates, and applying pressure defensively. Her activity level consistently shifts the energy of the game, and Purdue had a hard time keeping her in front or keeping her out of passing lanes.
Kennedy Smith filled the stat sheet in ways that don’t always jump off the scoreboard but absolutely show up in winning. She finished with 4 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, and posted the highest plus/minus on the team at +30. When Kennedy was on the floor, USC’s defense was flying around, and the offense stayed organized and aggressive. She wasn’t hunting shots; she was impacting possessions, and that showed in how the game tilted whenever she was in the lineup.
Off the bench, Londynn Jones provided a major spark. She scored 15 points on 4-for-7 shooting and finished with a +15 plus/minus. Her ability to come in and immediately apply scoring pressure helped USC maintain momentum even as the rotation shifted. Overall, USC’s bench outscored Purdue’s bench 27–12, which is a huge factor in any road game and speaks to the depth and energy this group brought.
The frontcourt gave USC solid, collective minutes and handled their responsibilities on both ends of the floor. Together, the bigs combined for 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists in limited but productive minutes across the rotation. Vivian Iwuchukwu had 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. Laura Williams added 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 12 minutes. Dayana Mendes finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 17 minutes. Gerda Raulusaitytė logged 8 minutes, providing defensive and spacing minutes. They finished plays when the ball came their way, competed on the glass, set physical screens, and protected the paint defensively. It wasn’t a night where the box score jumps off the page, but it was a night where the frontcourt did their job and supported what the rest of the group was doing, which is exactly what USC needed in this matchup.
USC’s 40 points in the paint reflected how consistently the team attacked the lane and forced Purdue’s defense to collapse. Whether it was drives, cuts, or quick finishes around the rim, USC stayed aggressive inside all night, and that constant pressure opened up the floor for ball movement and kick-outs when help defenders stepped in. The paint production was a team effort and a direct result of pace, spacing, and decision-making.
What stood out most in this game was not just the margin, but how complete the performance was. USC defended with purpose, ran with intention, shared the ball, and punished mistakes. Over recent stretches, the offense had gone through some ups and downs, but in this game, the identity was clear. The offensive rating jumped, the assist rate was elite, paint scoring was consistent, and transition opportunities were maximized. That isn’t accidental. That’s the result of commitment to style of play.
This was one of USC’s most complete performances of the season. They controlled tempo, controlled space, and never allowed Purdue to build confidence. If this level of ball movement, defensive pressure, and collective energy becomes the standard moving forward, this team becomes a problem for anyone left on the schedule.
