(via USC Athletics)

The Women of Troy completed their winning weekend at the Galen Center with a decisive 66-51 win over Colorado Sunday afternoon, improving their record to 13-10 overall and 5-7 in conference play

USC pulled off a come-from-behind victory after scoring only twenty-one points in the first half.  The win was the second of the season against the Buffs, whom they beat 81-61 in their last meeting.  

Unlike last month’s showdown, Sunday’s game was at times moving at a pace slower than molasses on a hot, summer day.  

Despite jumping out to an 8-2 lead, the team allowed Colorado to find their rhythm, and although the scoring was kept to a minimum, the Lady Buffs took a two-point, 23-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.  

Field goal percentage was abysmal for the Trojans who shot 27% before the break.  Colorado was hardly better with an unimpressive 30%.  USC’s three point shooting woes also continued as they went 0-5 in the first half.  

“Our first half was good,” said head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke.  “But our second half; we haven’t had that all year.”

In that second half, the Women of Troy came ready to compete.  USC opened the second half with the energy and intensity they had been lacking since the beginning of the game.  

READ MORE: Women Of Troy Prove Defense Pays Off Against Utah

Senior forward Alexyz Vaioletama had been not only scoreless, but had yet to take a shot through the first 20 minutes of play.  Vaioletama finished the game with 10 points in addition to seven rebounds.  She provided a spark for USC with eight quick points including USC’s first two three-pointers.

“At halftime Coop told me I hadn’t gotten any shots up,” said Vaioletama after the game.  “I needed to make an effort to not only take shots, but also make them.”

That she did, finishing the game on 3-5 shooting including 2-2 from behind the arc, and adding two free throws.  Vaioletama also added three assists and two steals to what was a very well rounded stat line. 

USC saw very balanced scoring from both the starters and the bench throughout the game on Sunday. 

Leading USC in scoring was senior Kaneisha Horn who put up 15 points for her fifth straight game in which she has scored in double digits.  Horn also had seven rebounds.  Also in double digits was redshirt sophomore Jordan Adams with ten points and six rebounds. 

The highlight of Sunday’s game was arguably the celebration that ensued after the team got the ‘W’.  The band made their center court appearance and swarmed the team while playing the fight song.  The Women of Troy were beaming from ear to ear. 

“We love the band,” said Adams.  “There’s no feeling like it.”  

Adams also described the band as the team’s “biggest support system,” and Coach Cooper also briefly reminisced on how much she loved the band when she was playing for the cardinal and gold.

“It’s almost like they play in the game with us,” she said.

The Women of Troy will look to take their momentum and passion into this week’s road trip to the Bay Area where they will play both Cal and Stanford.  In their early-season meetings, USC dropped the game 53-67 to Cal, and followed that up with a 60-71 loss to No. 12 Stanford.

“We are good enough to play with anybody in the country,” Adams assured.

The team is confident going forward, knowing that as long as they compete, they will find success.  

“We need to compete like Trojans,” summed up Cooper. 

Reach Staff Reporter Hailey Tucker here.