This was a big game for USC women’s basketball. Not only did the Trojans have a chance to beat top-15 opponent Oregon State on the road; they learned before tipoff that Oregon State star post player Raegan Beers would not play due to an injury. Oregon State probably deserved to be favored with a fully intact lineup, but Beers — who has given USC all sorts of problems with her defense and rebounding — needed to be on the floor for Oregon State to maintain an edge. Without her, USC had an opening to do something. Could the Trojans take advantage? Yes.
There’s a lot to unpack from Sunday’s 58-50 USC win in Corvallis. Let’s go through the details of the game and its significance: