Huskies

It's all part of the process to first-year Washington coach Kevin McGuff. But at some point, the close losses have to be infuriating.

The Huskies suffered another one Thursday, dropping a game to UCLA in overtime. It was UW's fifth loss this season by six points or fewer.

On Sunday, UW (11-9, 3-7 Pac-12) will try to rebound against USC (12-9, 6-4) at the Galen Center. The game will be televised on ROOT Sports at 1 p.m.

The Trojans used a three-pointer by Ariya Crook with 13 seconds remaining to defeat Washington State 67-62 on Thursday.

"It's still all in our control," said UW senior Charmaine Barlow, a native of Pasadena, Calif. She's making her final trip home to play alongside senior forward Mollie Williams, who is from Cerritos.

"We've just got to limit a lot of mistakes that we're making at the end of games, and we should be fine," Barlow said. " ... The seniors did come together after the UCLA game. We talked to each other to find out what more we need to do individually to help our team because they're still young and learning. We just have to stick together."

Senior center Regina Rogers has been the anchor for Washington since she returned from a hamstring injury Jan. 14. The 6-foot-3 Rogers averaged 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in her past three games.

Yet UW lost the past two by a combined 10 points. In the Arizona State loss, it was missed free throws. Against UCLA, which won its second consecutive game in overtime, Rogers fouled out in extra play.

"We played really well in the second half, put ourselves in good position," McGuff said. " ... Bottom line is we have to get a little bit better, especially on offense, to kind of close out these games.

"They're really invested and trying to finish up this season on a high note and win as much as we can. Anytime they (seniors) take ownership in what we're trying to do is a good thing for us."

USC presents a different issue in senior guard Briana Gilbreath and the emergence of sophomore forward Cassie Harberts.

Gilbreath, the conference's two-time Defensive Player of the Year, missed one game due to a knee injury. She returned for the WSU win, scoring 14 points off the bench. Harberts, who is 6-2, averaged 15.5 points in the Trojans' past two wins, helping USC snap a three-game losing streak.

Washington hasn't defeated USC since January 2008.

"She's a really hard matchup," McGuff said of Gilbreath. "And they can really get going at the three-point line, so us guarding them there — especially Briana and Ashley Corral (Prairie High) — will be key. We have to get back in transition. They can really hurt you there, and the last thing would be us generating quality shots."

Note

• Sophomore forward Marjorie Heard underwent left-knee surgery Friday. McGuff said he received text messages from Heard and trainer Jenn Stueckle saying everything is fine.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com.

On Twitter @JaydaEvans