As has been the case with most of its recent losses, the women’s basketball team came out strong in the first half. But in the end, it was not enough, as the Wildcats fell to USC, 78-62, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

The loss, Arizona’s second in a row and 13th in its last 16 games, drops its record on the season to 14-14, 3-13 in the Pac-12.

Sophomore forward Erica Barnes came off the bench and led the Wildcats with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while junior guard Davellyn Whyte added 13 points and eight rebounds. USC had four players score in double digits, led by Stefanie Gilbreath with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 3-of-3 from 3-point range.

Arizona kept the game close throughout most of the first half, and after a layup by Barnes with 4:55 remaining, the game was tied 27-27. It was all downhill from there though. The Trojans proceeded to go on a 12-4 run to close out the half and went into the locker room leading the Wildcats 39-31.

Things did not get much better in the second half, as Gilbreath scored a 3-point jumper in the opening minute. After Erin Butler, Arizona’s 3-point shooting specialist, nailed a shot from long distance with 16:24 remaining, bringing the score to 46-37, USC never let the game get any closer than that. The Trojans led by a game-high 17 points with 5:39 remaining after a two-pointer from Cassie Harberts.

To add insult to injury, Whyte fouled out of the game in its waning moments. She finished shooting just 4-of-11 from the field and turned the ball over four times.