BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - USC Women?s Basketball 101

February 2, 2007

Nothing has come easy to the USC Women of Troy. The team's line-up reads like a solid enough equation: one part blue chip freshman class and one part talented veterans.

Instead, the soap opera of the season unfolded and let loose nothing short of a serious blow.

Injury after injury took a toll on the Women of Troy, with as many as seven players out a time. The first half of the season was patchy--a record 11-8 overall and 5-4 in the Pac-10. But, as players recover and trickle back into the game, the second half of conference play looks promising. Just last weekend, USC beat the Washington Huskies in what was, according to Coach Mark Trakh, their best effort of the season.

Contrast the Washington game to the contest earlier in season and the win feels all the more meaningful. In the beginning, SC's roster started to read like a hospital chart. 'Hip Injuries' could pass as a teammate with plenty of play and a good defensive game.

Point Guard Camile LeNoir, last season's No. 2 scorer and No. 1 distributor, redshirts this season healing a displaced hip.

Brynn Cameron, a player recognized for both her scoring ability and her relationship with SC football great Matt Leinart, sits out nursing a bum hip and new baby to boot.

In early play, lengthy Forward Jamie Funn, regarded as the teams vocal leader, struggled with a hip injury and a broken nose.

Not to be outdone, three of the four newcomers are dealing with injury this season. Top high school recruit and McDonald's All-American Jacki Gemelos is out with an injured leg. The team's freshman up-and-comers make up the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Nevertheless, guard/forward Morgan Medlock is the only freshman consistently playing for Coach Trakh.

Fans expected great things from hale and hearty team captain Eshaya "Shay" Murphy. Last season she led the team in scoring, steals and three pointers. To say that Shay has delivered in '07 might be the understatement of the season. Highlights from her laundry list of achievements include, All-American honorable mention, 'Top-10 in the Pac-10' ranking and 46 consecutive games scoring in the double digits. Murphy, alongside SC's second lead scorer center Cloe Kerrr, and a healing Jamie Funn brought experience and drive to the USC game.

With Murphy, Kerr and Funn stepping out as the few but proud returning starters, each fell into a position to lead by example. Murphy's motto seems to be the team's propeller. "Match their intensity," she says, referring to the opposing side. In an interesting twist, second string players stepping up with big shoes to fill have taken their cue from Murphy and matched the intensity of the team's leaders to become leaders in their own right.

Point guard Jamie Hagiya quite literally had big shoes to fill. At only 5'4'' Hagiya stepped in for LaNoir with a different game and a lot of heart. According to LaNoir, Hagiya thinks "Pass first." However, Hagiya keeps pace with big points and permanent hustle. Hagiya had six steals against WSU and last weekend marked her 8th game scoring in the double-digits. Her chemistry on and off the court with Shay Murphy makes for tight and fiery play.

Guard/forward Allison Jaskowiak continues to prove herself a go-to player. Jaskowiak seems to have gone from zero to 100 in no time at all. She hadn't started a single game her first two years of play but as a senior she is an integral part of the starting line-up and one of three team captains.

Perhaps the greatest testament to the character of SC is the success of walk-on Nicole Berberet. Berberet was added to the roster and thrust into the playing guard for the Women of Troy. She was a starter against Washington in December and has upped her playing time from 3 to 11 minutes this season. Berberet is evidence that the Women of Troy rely on the entire team rather than a select few.

Sunday's game against the Washington Huskies may just be proof that USC has indeed left the hurdle of hurt behind them. After falling to UW in December the Women of Troy dominated the Huskies this time around. They shot 54% from the field with a game high 25 points from Shay Murphy. The game was hailed as their best effort the season bar none. The Women of Troy have perked up their record to 13-8 overall and 7-4 in the Pac.

USC now ties Cal for the number 3 position in the Pac-10. The Women of Troy are looking to channel the intensity of the Washington games and take that drive on the road up in Oregon this weekend. It already got off to a fast start with Shay hitting a last second three pointer giving the Women of Troy the victory over Oregon State.

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