Michigan Women's Basketball Falls to USC, 81-53

Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (Galen Center) Score: Southern California 81, Michigan 53 Records: Michigan (4-3), Southern California (4-1) Next U-M Event: Friday, Dec. 5 -- vs. North Carolina State (Crisler Arena), 6:30 p.m. • Boxscore LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team fell at Southern Cal 81-53 tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 2) at the Galen Center. The Women of Troy had five players in double figures, led by a game-high 19 from Camille LeNoir, and shot 48.5 percent from the field.   Michigan was led by 17 points from senior Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) and 10 from senior Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg HS) in the losing effort, while senior Stephany Skrba (Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School), junior Kalyn McPherson (Traverse City, Mich./West HS) and senior Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) each had five rebounds. The Wolverines, who shot 32.1 percent on 18-of-56 shooting from the field, were outrebounded for the first time in three games, 38-33.   Out of the halftime break, five straight points from Queen cut the Southern Cal lead to 49-40 and gave the Wolverines some momentum, but the Trojans were able to keep the lead with several buckets from LeNoir and Kari LaPlante. USC's hot shooting did not extend to the second half, but it was able to get buckets from Nadia Parker on the inside to pick up its fourth consecutive win.   Southern California came out firing on all cylinders to start the contest, led by Camille LeNoir and Brianna Gilbreath, who were a combined 6-of-8 from the floor through the first six minutes to put the Wolverines in a 22-9 hole early. Benson was able to give Michigan a lift with her 14th three-pointer of the season as Michigan went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 27-20 midway through the half after trailing by as many as 14 points early.   USC continued its hot shooting late in the first frame, going 19-of-33 (57.6 percent) from the floor. Michigan was able to get it as close as seven points twice in the first half but could not combat USC's hot shooting trio of LeNoir, Gilbreath and Oliver, who combined for 34 of USC's 49 first-half points as the Trojans took a 49-35 lead into the break.   Michigan next heads home to the friendly confines of Crisler Arena for the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge game against North Carolina State on Friday (Dec. 5). Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Fans can follow the action on WTKA AM 1050 with Matt Park and Nick Brandon on the call.