USC Women Surprise No. 13-Ranked Texas

The USC women’s basketball may have found a home away from home at Cal State Fullerton, where the Trojans upset 13th-ranked Texas, 83-81, Wednesday night before 1,028 fans at Titan Gym.

In a game featuring outstanding shooting, it was USC’s defense in the final 15 seconds that won it.

After trailing, 79-75, with 3:05 remaining, USC outscored Texas, 8-2, capped by center Cherie Nelson’s layin.

After a Texas timeout, the Trojans (4-4) forced All-American forward Clarissa Davis to miss a jump shot; USC freshman guard Tammy Story retrieved it as the game ended.

“I told the team before the game that they were long overdue to win a big game,” USC Coach Linda Sharp said. “This win will definitely be a big emotional and mental boost for the young players on the team.”

It was USC’s youth who shined in a game in which USC shot 53% from the floor and Texas 64%.

Story scored 10 points and fellow freshman guard Linda Kennedy had 14.

They also made clutch plays. It was Story who chased down a loose Texas rebound, started a fastbreak and assisted on Kennedy’s layup to tie the score at 79-79.

USC took its final lead shortly thereafter, when 6-foot junior Tammy Hammond scored on a layup over Texas’ 6-8 center Ellen Bayer.

The Longhorns then scored on Susan Anderson’s shot with 38 seconds left to tie the score, 81-81, setting up Nelson’s drive.

Nelson, third in the nation in scoring, averaging 29 points a game before Wednesday, finished with 20 points after playing poorly in the first half.

“I was not into the rhythm of the game in the first half,” said Nelson, who led the Trojans with 8 rebounds. “Once Clarissa (Davis) started to get tired, I was able to move around her and get better position down the stretch.”

In the second half, neither team was able to gain more than a 4-point lead. Davis, who was the Naismith women college player of the year as a sophomore, was not expected to make the Longhorns’ trip to California because of a back problem. Still, she scored 23 points.

“I just did not feel right tonight,” said Davis, who played with an oversized brace on her left knee from a surgery last season. “I felt good in the open court but I had my problems posting up.”

The Trojans were also led by Karon Howell, who finished with 22 points. Her three-point shooting got the Trojans off to a good start.

For Texas (3-4), Anderson scored 21 points and had 9 rebounds.