The Oregon Ducks blew out the USC Trojans 73-50 today at Matt Court. The Ducks ran up a 12 point lead in the first quarter that they would never relinquish, despite struggling with turnovers. The Trojans were cold for the entire game and could not manage much offensively. Sabrina Ionescu led Oregon with 22 points and 11 rebounds and Ruthy Hebard added 14 points. Mallory McGwire and Lexi Bando contributed 12 points apiece, and McGwire also grabbed 8 rebounds. Minyon Moore paced USC with 14 points and 6 rebounds, but she was the only Trojan in double figures.
The Ducks were led by McGwire in the first quarter, as the freshman scored 6 points in the opening frame on 2-3 shooting. Oregon would jump out to a huge lead, eventually ending the quarter up 18-6 after a pair of baskets by Hebard. Ionescu added 6 points in a quarter where the team shot 72% and held USC to 18.7% shooting.
Oregon would cool off in the second quarter, shooting 26.7%, and turnovers would start to become a problem. Fortunately USC was not able to do much damage to the lead, but Dani Milisic scored 6 points and was the only player on either team to make more than one bucket. Oregon outrebounded USC 20-13 in the first half, both teams combined for 20 turnovers, and the Ducks took a 27-16 lead into halftime.
The Ducks slowly grew the lead to begin the third quarter behind 7 points from Hebard. Then the lead exploded after 3 pointers by Maite Cazorla, Bando, and Ionescu. Oregon was on fire in the quarter, shooting 75% from the field and 80% from 3 to take a 23 point lead into the fourth quarter, 54-31.
USC played Oregon even in the fourth quarter, but was unable to make a dent in the lead. The Ducks paired their 23 point advantage to end the third with a 23 point victory at the end of the fourth. Ionescu scored 7 points, and Mar’shay Moore scored 4 points in the fourth to seal the victory. The Ducks outrebounded the Trojans 40-25 in the game while committing 18 turnovers.
Up next the Ducks travel to face the Utah Utes on Friday at 5 PM.