Women of Troy to host Bay Area teams


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After a tough loss to UCLA, the USC women’s basketball team carries on as it faces Bay Area contenders California (12-5, 4-2 Pac-12) and Stanford (13-5, 5-1 Pac-12) this weekend.

The Golden Bears, who thrashed Arizona (7-10, 0-6 Pac-12) and lost to Arizona State (17-1, 6-0 Pac-12) last weekend, will visit the Women of Troy first on Friday. Forward Reshanda Gray leads the Golden Bears with 19 points per game, and guard Brittany Boyd is averaging 13 points per game and 7.9 rebounds. Gray and Boyd make up two of the three starters who played a role in the Golden Bears’ trip to the second round in the NCAA tournament last season.

“They’re well coached, they play hard, and then they have some strong pieces, so we’re going to have to play well, we’re going to have to play hard and execute,” said head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. “I think execution, offensively and defensively, is going to be key for us this weekend.”

Both Cal and USC took turns beating each other on their home courts last season. The Women of Troy conquered the Bears in Haas Pavilion, 77-70. Cal struck back, however, and rolled on USC in the Galen Center, 76-67.  USC knows the Bears have a dominating presence in the paint and plan to tame their fast-break points.

“Communication is key with Cal because they like to run out. We need to make sure we know who we’re getting in transition, who’s stopping the ball, who’s getting back,” said junior guard Brianna Barrett.

Senior forward Alexyz Vaioletama is excited to see Barrett go against Cal’s Boyd. Vaioletama has good knowledge of Boyd’s game and considers the Golden Bears to be a fast, “run and gun” team.

“Making it difficult in the beginning for her [Boyd] would help us,” Vaioletama said. “The guards are going to have to keep her in front, and if they get beat, they’re going to have to rely on the post players to come over and help.”

The Stanford Cardinal are third in the Pac-12 conference. Like Cal, they defeated Arizona but were chopped down by Arizona State on Monday. Guards Lili Thompson and Amber Orrange lead Stanford with 15 points and 12 points per game, respectively. Though Stanford swept the Women of Troy last regular season, USC upset them in the 2014 Pac-12 tournament.

“We beat Stanford last year to get to the championship, that was the semifinals,” said Vaioletama. “For them it’s keeping their poise and running the offense. Stanford has always had a great program.”

Last Sunday against UCLA, Vaioletama earned 17 points and 12 rebounds, achieving her fourth career double-double. Freshman guard McKenzie Calvert played her part by scoring 12 points and two assists.

The Bruins and the Women of Troy switched the lead throughout the match. Deep in the second half, the Bruins made a pair of free throws that gave them the lead. This was the beginning of the end, as USC went scoreless for the rest of the game. UCLA ultimately won, 71-60.

Cooper-Dyke said the team must play together on both ends of the floor in order to be tough.

“Our strength is our balance in scoring when we share the ball, our athletic ability to get up and down the court and play one-on-one basketball,” Cooper-Dyke said. “We’re a young team and we’re still a work in progress,”

USC hosts Cal on Friday at 7 p.m. PST and will play the Cardinal on Sunday at 5 p.m. PST in the Galen Center.