The women’s basketball team has won games despite losing in the turnover margin, rebound margin and other statistics.
But one number sticks out above the rest: 73.
When it scores 73 points or more, the squad is 10-0. When it fails to reach that total, it is 3-12.
The team will try to reach that level on Saturday at USC, when the Bruins face the Women of Troy again after a 75-72 loss at Pauley Pavilion last month.
Though tacking one more point onto the Bruins’ total in that game would not have changed the outcome, the team’s record when it scores more is an indicator of the style of ball it prefers to play.
With Tierra Henderson leading the team with 56 steals, the Bruins would rather run an up-tempo, fast-paced offense that flourishes off quick defensive stops and forces the other team into short possessions.
The squad capitalizes off fast-break opportunities and is at its best when playing what coach Kathy Olivier calls a “disruptive” style of defense.
The team relies on Noelle Quinn to provide not only points and assists but also rebounds, in which she leads the Bruins with 174, mostly from the guard position.
Quinn has provided UCLA with a steady hand, playing over 36 minutes per game and contributing 16.8 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Against USC last time, Quinn had a career day, dropping 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but missed an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired.
Lindsey Pluimer is likely to be key if the Bruins want revenge against the Trojans.
She was a non-factor in the previous matchup, shooting 1-9 from the floor for four points in 30 minutes of play.
Chinyere Ibekwe will also be important for the Bruins. She put up 16 points in 28 minutes against the Women of Troy last time, but she only played 15 and 12 minutes in the past two games, for a combined 13 points.
The Bruins will need to contain USC guard Eshaya Murphy better on Saturday than they did in the last game.
In the previous matchup, Quinn held Murphy to shooting 4-14 from the floor but three of her made shots were treys.
Murphy finished the game with 18 points, including shooting 7-8 from the line in the final minutes.
NOTES: The Galen Center has sold out for Saturday’s matchup ““ the first advance sellout in USC women’s basketball history.
About 5,400 tickets were sold for the “A Day in Troy” promotion, which includes campus tours for neighborhood families.
Tickets were sold for either $10 or $3 in the promotion, with money from those sales going towards USC’s Good Neighbors Campaign, which benefits surrounding schools.