LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Southern California Women of Troy used a dominant second-quarter surge to overpower the Portland Pilots, securing a 78-51 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at a Galen Center crowd of 2,947.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the first quarter featuring a competitive, albeit sloppy, start. Portland capitalized on early Southern California miscues and led after the opening period, 14-10. The Pilots’ defense, anchored by Julia Dalan’s formidable presence in the paint, forced several turnovers and blocked multiple shots to establish an early advantage.

However, the contest turned decisively in the second quarter. The Women of Troy erupted for 24 points while clamping down defensively, holding Portland to just nine points in the period. A 21-4 run by Southern California during the frame transformed a narrow deficit into a commanding 34-23 halftime lead. The Pilots’ offense struggled mightily against the heightened defensive pressure, committing a string of turnovers that the home team converted into easy transition baskets.

Southern California never relented after the intermission, methodically extending its lead throughout the second half. The Women of Troy outscored Portland in each of the final three quarters, including a 26-point fourth quarter to put the game completely out of reach.

The statistical sheet underscored the lopsided nature of the contest. Southern California’s defense was relentless, forcing Portland into 25 total turnovers while registering 13 steals. The Women of Troy also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Pilots and grabbing 21 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second-chance points.

Offensively, Southern California was led by a standout performance from freshman Jazzy Davidson. The Clackamas, Oregon, native scored a game-high 19 points and dished out five assists, consistently breaking down the Portland defense. She was complemented by Kennedy Smith, who added 13 points, and a balanced scoring effort that saw Londynn Jones contribute 12 points and Kara Dunn add 10.

Portland’s offensive struggles were pervasive. The team shot just 32.2 percent from the floor and a meager 25 percent from beyond the three-point line. Turnovers and an inability to sustain offensive possessions against Southern California’s defensive pressure proved to be their undoing. Lainey Spear led the Pilots with 11 points, while Brynn Smith provided a spark off the bench with nine points. Julia Dalan, while scoring only three points, was a defensive force with eight blocked shots.

The victory improves Southern California’s record to 3-1 on the young season, bouncing back from a loss to South Carolina in its previous outing. Portland falls to an even 2-2 with the loss, having split its first four games.

Southern California now travels to face Notre Dame on Friday, while Portland heads to a tournament in Honolulu to face Idaho State.