TROJANS' GAME STILL NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO WIN USC KEEPS IT CLOSE, BUT CAN'T UPSET NO. 4 OHIO ST. OHIO STATE 68, USC 57.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

Two weeks ago, USC sophomore guard Brynn Cameron was still trudging through three hours of rehabilitation work a day. Her teammate, junior forward Jamie Funn, was sitting on the adjacent training table.

After two games in which they played in limited minutes, both were asked to play a big role as Ohio State, the No. 4-ranked team in the country, came to the Sports Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Both Cameron and Funn showed signs that they'll be back to full strength soon, and USC was able to keep it close, but the Trojans could never mount an extended run and the Buckeyes escaped with a 68-57 victory in front of 1,276.

``We were right there the whole game, but we just couldn't get ahead,'' said Cameron, USC's leading returning scorer from last year. ``That gives us some confidence because we know we can play with the No. 4 team in the country.

``We've got the same team from last year (that went to the NCAA Tournament), but we've had injuries and some roles have changed. But I'm sure with some time, we'll come together.''

Cameron, the former Newbury Park High star who missed nearly seven months with a torn labrum in her hip, came off the bench to score eight points, including two 3-pointers, in 22 minutes. Funn, who also had a hip injury, started the game, but finished with just two points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

USC sophomore point guard Camille LeNoir came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Junior Eshaya Murphy (Montclair Prep of Panorama City) had 14 points and six rebounds.

Ultimately though, USC was too one-dimensional. The Trojans stayed close in the first half by hitting 6 of 12 3-pointers, but were only 4 of 18 from inside the 3-point arc.

They trailed 33-28 at the half, but Ohio State adjusted its defense at halftime and began contesting those 3-pointers. USC was only 3 for 11 on 3-pointers in the second half.

Despite shooting just 34 percent in the game, USC (5-3) had a chance to take the lead late in the second half. Murphy's layup with 6:05 remaining brought USC to within 54-51, but Ohio State went on a 14-6 run to close out the game.

``Down the stretch, we just needed to make some more baskets,'' USC coach Mark Trakh said. ``I feel like we're going to peak, but I just don't know when. ... We've played everybody tough, but we've got to go past tough and get the win.''

Ohio State (7-0) was led by junior guard Brandie Hoskins, who had a game-high 20 points.

USC was able to slow down the Buckeyes' All-America center, 6-foot-5 Jessica Davenport, with a box-and-one defense, but Davenport still finished with 15 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) USC's Eshaya Murphy drives to the basket in the Trojans' 68-57 loss to No. 4 Ohio State at the Sports Arena.

Branimir Kvartuc/Associated Press

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