Women of Troy open up Pac-12 Tournament


After a tough weekend in Washington, the USC women’s basketball team heads back to Seattle for the Pac-12 Tournament. In their first round game, they will face the No. 9 seed Colorado Buffaloes (13-16, 6-12 Pac-12). The Women of Troy conquered the Buffs twice during the season.

“We’ve been relentless all year long,” head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke said. “One thing we need to do is start to put together a 40-minute game.”

The Buffs defeated Arizona (10-19, 3-15 Pac-12) last Friday, but fell to Arizona State (26-4, 15-3 Pac-12) in their last regular season game. Jamee Swan averages 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while Jen Reese earns 13 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Both players shoot at 47 percent in field goals.

The Buffs and the Women of Troy last matched brawn in the Galen Center on Feb. 8. Four Trojans, including freshman forward Kristen Simon and redshirt sophomore guard Jordan Adams, scored in the double digits.

“We know some of their tendencies and we know their player personnel, but I think we’re using that to our advantage,” senior forward Alexyz Vaioletama said.

USC might be forced to go into Key Arena without the services of Vaioletama, however, who as of Tuesday has not been cleared to play after suffering a concussion. Simon will return in time for tournament play.

“We’re used to making do,” Cooper-Dyke said. “This an opportunity for Simon to step up or [Amy] Okonkwo to step up or Jordan to give us minutes and defense.”

Cooper-Dyke has been focusing on ironing out the details of the Women of Troy’s gameplan and working hard to prepare the newer players for the intensity of the tournament.  The Women of Troy won the conference tournament last year.

“Last year, the biggest thing we did is we all came together at the end,” sophomore guard Courtney Jaco said. “We’re the only ones that believed we could do it.”

The last seven days have been triumphant and tragic for the Women of Troy. Three of the Women of Troy finish the season with Pac-12 honors. Vaioletama was chosen to be a member of All-Pac-12 Team. Vaioletama has averaged 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and was named the SMU Thanksgiving Classic MVP during this season. She has hit her career high of 24 points twice and scored double digits 16 games.

“To be a part of that is a blessing and an honor and I’m humbled,” Vaioletama said.

Senior forward Kaneisha Horn earned All Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention after averaging 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Horn earned her first double-double this season and has scored in the double digits in 18 games. When the Women of Troy fought against Sacramento State, Horn earned a career high in scoring and a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

Freshman guard McKenzie Calvert received a spot on the Pac-12 All Freshmen team. The conference honored Calvert by voting her Pac-12 Freshmen of the Week in January.  She is the second leading 3-point shooter for the Women of Troy, executing a total of 36 shots from behind the arc during the season. Calvert ties with Horn, having 10.3 points per game; both are tied as USC’s second leading scorers.

Unfortunately, the Women of Troy went 0-2 over the weekend; the fight against the Washington Huskies (22-8, 11-7 Pac-12) and Washington State Cougars (16-13, 7-11, Pac-12) would leave them with 15-14 overall and 7-11 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Women of Troy had to fight on without Vaioletama and Simon.

In the game Saturday against the Cougars, Calvert led in scoring with 18 points and Horn contributed 14 points.

“Some of the challenge is a mental challenge,” Cooper-Dyke said. “They know us, we know them and the team with the strongest will, intensity and focus will win the game.”

USC’s game against Colorado on Thursday can be viewed on Pac-12 network.