LOS ANGELES, CA (11/26/00) - USC (2-2) overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat St. Joseph's (1-2) 66-55 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The loss spoiled a strong performance by Susan Moran, who finished the game with 29 points and 6 rebounds. In the second half, SJU connected on just five field goal attempts, on 13 of 31. A 10-2 run by the Women of Troy to start the second half knotted the contest at 35-35. Then USC took advantage when Angela Zampella was forced to the bench with her fourth personal foul at the 11:06 mark and SJU ahead, 40-39. With her on the bench, the St. Joseph's attack struggled to find a groove USC pushed out to a six-point advantage, 49-43. Down the stretch the Trojans hit 10-12 from the line to hold off the Hawks and pull away for the win. The Women of Troy were unable to control Moran in the first half. Virtually unstoppable, she tallied 20 first half points connecting on 6 of 8 from the floor and 8 of 9 from the line. With the Tullamore, Ireland native having her way in the post, SJU built up a nine-point advantage, 21-12. USC, however, whittled the St. Joseph's advantage down to just 2-points with 3:15 remaining in the period. The Cityliners held a 32-25 halftime advantage. After a long trip to the West Coast, the Hawks will return to the Fieldhouse on Wednesday, November 29 to host St. John's. The contest will be the first game of a SJU men's-women's doubleheader. The Hawk men will host Old Dominion in the nightcap. The Hawk women will then return to the road to take part in the KU Credit Union Jayhawk Classic in Lawrence, Kansas next weekend.