But once the Gophers found their footing, they traded punches with USC rather impressively. Hart had another strong game, scoring 18 points with eight rebounds. Mallory Heyer made five of seven three-pointers — she was the only Gophers player to hit a three — and scored 17. Battle scored 14 points with seven rebounds, a block and a steal.

The Gophers were down 15 after three quarters. Heyer hit a three and two free throws and Hart scored to pull the Gophers within 64-58 with 8:10 left. But seconds later Avery Howell hit a three to stop the rally.

Struggling to defend the perimeter on one end and finding good shots hard to find, the Gophers fell behind 20-5 before the game was six minutes old, when Clarice Akunwafo scored with 4:03 left in the quarter.

The Trojans hit five of 11 three-pointers in the quarter, led by Iriafen, who hit two and had nine points in the first quarter.

Hart and Grace Grocholski each had four points in a 10-2 run that pulled the Gophers within seven late in the quarter before a three by Talia von Oelhoffen made it a 10-point game entering the second quarter.

Calmed down, the Gophers hung with the Trojans for much of the second quarter. Minnesota continued to keep a lid on Watkins’ scoring — she was 0-for-10 in the first half — but had a hard time slowing Iriafen, who had 14 points and eight rebounds by halftime, when USC led 40-28, a lead it extended to 15 after three quarters.