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 Galen Center.

A crowd of 2,947 watched as the Women of Troy improved to 3-1 on the season, while the Pilots fell to an even 2-2.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the first quarter proving to be a competitive affair. Portland established an early lead, closing the opening period with a 14-10 advantage. However, the momentum shifted decisively in the second quarter as Southern California’s defense clamped down. The Women of Troy erupted for 24 points while holding the Pilots to just nine, turning a four-point deficit into a 34-23 halftime lead.

Southern California never relented, outscoring Portland in each of the final three quarters. The Women of Troy extended their lead with 18 points in the third and a game-high 26 in the fourth to put the contest out of reach.

The victory was fueled by a stifling defensive effort from Southern California, which forced 25 Portland turnovers and converted them into numerous transition opportunities. The Women of Troy also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Pilots 21-13 on the offensive end, leading to crucial second-chance points.

Jazzy Davidson led all scorers for Southern California, pouring in 19 points while dishing out five assists. Kennedy Smith provided a strong all-around performance with 13 points, three assists and a block. The backcourt duo of Londynn Jones and Kara Dunn also reached double figures, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Portland was led by Lainey Spear, who finished with 11 points. Brynn Smith came off the bench to contribute nine points, all from beyond the arc. Julia Dalan anchored the Pilots’ interior defense, swatting away eight shots.

Efficiency told the story of the game. Southern California scored 78 points on 80 possessions for an offensive rating of 97.9, while Portland managed just 51 points on 78 possessions, an offensive rating of 65.3. The Pilots struggled from the field, shooting 32 percent, and committed 10 more turnovers than the Women of Troy.

Southern California now looks ahead to a marquee road matchup against Notre Dame on Friday. Portland will continue its early-season schedule against Idaho State on Friday in Honolulu.