USC Women's Basketball: Lindsay Gottlieb Optimistic About Trojans Despite Disappointing Utes Loss

USC still has a lot to play for the rest of the year.

Your USC women's basketball team dropped a tough game over the weekend to Utah. However, it wasn't the type of loss where the team hung their heads.

The Trojans shot 4-20 from beyond the three-point line, which typically doesn't happen for them. It caused them to drop this game while Utah shot 11-27.

But head coach Lindsay Gottlieb isn't too worried. She was happy with the team's effort in the game but understood that the shots just aren't going to fall sometimes.

“If you look at this box score, the difference is the three-point line,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said, noting that USC had six more rebounds and three fewer turnovers than Utah. “We competed. We competed, but we made too many game plan mistakes.”

Per Lindsay Gottlieb via Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times

It was just a frustrating game all around for the Trojans. Despite star JuJu Watkins doing her normal scoring act by dropping 30, she was even out of sorts a little. 

The entire offense was flat throughout, and it cost them. 

Gottlieb acknowledged the Trojans were “on the struggle bus” offensively. Watkins especially couldn’t find a rhythm, missing her first five shots. She asked to sub out of game for long stretches during the first half before getting an IV for extra fluids during halftime. She didn’t make a jump shot until the 6:40 mark of the fourth quarter."

Per Thuc Nhi Nguyen

 

of The Los Angeles Times

The Trojans can take this game to learn from and finish the year strong. They've had a very successful season so far and will be a tough out at tournament time.