Kennedy Smith Leads USC Women To Stun No. 8 Iowa In Statement Victory
In a dramatic turnaround for their season, Kennedy Smith and the USC women’s basketball team stunned No. 8 Iowa with an 81-69 victory on Thursday night at the Galen Center. The win snapped the Hawkeyes’ eight-game winning streak and handed them their first Big Ten loss of the season, marking a significant resurgence for a USC squad that had lost six of its previous seven games.
Kennedy Smith took control during a critical stretch in the third quarter. After Iowa cut USC’s lead to just three points, Smith ignited the offense, scoring eight points during a decisive 18-2 run that effectively put the game out of reach. Kara Dunn led all scorers with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman Jazzy Davidson added 21 points and eight assists to secure the upset.
However, the victory was not without cost. The mood in the arena was dampened when USC starting forward Vivian Iwuchukwu went down with a leg injury with 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. She was unable to put weight on her leg and had to be helped to the locker room, raising immediate concerns about her availability for the remainder of the season. Furthermore, while the win was impressive, questions remain about USC’s consistency given their overall 12-9 record and recent struggles against unranked opponents.
Iowa, dropping to 18-3, never held a lead in the contest. Journey Houston provided a spark off the bench with 16 points, but the Hawkeyes were unable to match USC’s intensity or overcome the Trojans’ 28-13 first-quarter surge. The loss serves as a wake-up call for Iowa, while USC will look to build momentum from this performance despite the looming injury concerns.
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