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The Three Torches 11/4: Let The Games Begin

The Three Torches 11/4: Let The Games Begin

Today, a pair of season opener previews and the Women of Troy earn a host of awards

Zach Garrett
November 04, 2024

Good Morning, Trojan Family! Basketball season is back as both the men’s and women’s teams begin their 2024-25 campaigns today. Listen to The Victory Podcast for a quick season preview for each team.

What else do we have for you in today's edition of The Three Torches? Check it out below!

🏀 A pair of season-opener previews
⚽️ Women of Troy earn a host of awards
⚔️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Across The Pond. At No. 3 in the nation, USC women’s basketball grips its highest preseason AP ranking since 1984 as the Women of Troy enter their 2024-25 campaign with big goals coming off of last season's NCAA Elite Eight run. Under the direction of head coach Lindsay Gottlieb for the fourth season, the Trojans kick off the season in Paris, France, and will take on Ole Miss in an Aflac Oui-Play Game at Adidas Arena at 9 a.m.

🔼 Double Digit Honorees. The Big Ten Postseason Awards were released and 10 Trojans were honored including Helena Sampaio who was named Midfielder of the Year, Laurence Gladu who was named Goalkeeper of the Year and Jane Alukonis who was named Coach of the Year. Four Trojans earned All-Big Ten first-team honors, with Gladu and Sampaio joined by Maile Hayes and Brooklyn Courtnall. Maria Alagoa was named to the All-Big Ten second team and Kayla Colbert and Simone Jackson earned third-team recognition. Faith George and Ines Derrien were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

🔼 Let The Games Begin. USC men’s basketball is set to open the 2024-25 campaign against Chattanooga at the Galen Center today — reigning in the inaugural season under head coach Eric Musselman. The Trojans are 17-7 in opening contests since the year 2000 and 82-36 all-time in season openers. USC is the most experienced Power 5 team in college basketball based on minutes played per game last season (327.6).

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🔼 Tough Road Test. Washington held off a furious second-half rally by USC as the Trojans came up short in a 26-21 loss on the road against the Huskies. Woody Marks, who ran for a career-high three touchdowns against Rutgers, rushed for 123 yards against Washington. Wide out Makai Lemon had eight catches for 70 yards and Zachariah Branch had six catches for 102 yards.

🔼 Extending The Streak. The No. 21-ranked USC women's volleyball team took down Washington in four sets at the Galen Center to improve to 16-6 on the season and 8-4 in Big Ten play. It was the Trojans' third straight win over the Huskies for their longest win streak in the all-time series since USC won three in a row in 2010-11. Senior Mia Tuaniga dished out 37 assists to set the Trojans to their sixth match over .300 hitting and dug up 11 balls to post her seventh double-double of the season.

🔼 Leader of the Pack. Helena Teixeira-Dasilva was USC cross country’s top finisher to lead the Trojans to an 18th-place finish at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships. It was the first Big Ten Championship for the Trojans in the strong cross country conference which features six of the top 26 teams in the country. Leah Disher was the second Trojan finisher and she ran a 6K personal best of 22:48.6.

Today’s Top Tier Performance presented by ARCO goes to USC women’s basketball’s Rayah Marshall. The Trojan senior earned her second selection to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List as she enters her final season at USC. Marshall is the fourth Trojan to be named to a 2024-25 watch list for the Naismith Starting 5

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Look Out For These Four. USC women’s basketball enters the season following one of their best seasons in recent history. The Trojans earned the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986 and the team’s 2024 NCAA Elite Eight run was its first since 1994. This season, USC is hungry for more with a loaded roster full of returners and top transfers.

Our question today: which four Women of Troy were named to a 2024-25 watch list for the Naismith Starting 5?

Got a guess? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

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🗣️ SPREAD THE WORD

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📅 THE WEEK AHEAD

*All times Pacific

Tuesday, November 5
No scheduled events

Wednesday, November 6
No scheduled events

⚔️ Click here to view the full USC Trojan Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: JuJu Watkins, Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen!

Marshall was the fourth Trojan to be named to a 2024-25 watch list for the Naismith Starting 5, following von Oelhoffen's selection to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watch List, Watkins' pick to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List and Iriafen's spot on the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Watch List.

⚔️ Have a great Monday, everyone!