JuJu Watkins goes cold, but No. 7 Southern California still handles No. 8 Ohio State with a decisive 84-63 victory on Saturday night. Kiki Iriafen shone brightly with an impressive performance, scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead her team to victory.
Watkins, who is the Big Ten’s leading scorer averaging 24.2 points per game, struggled significantly. She missed her first 11 shots before finally hitting a layup in the third quarter, which drew cheers from the crowd. Overall, she finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, shooting just 5-for-21 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.
The Trojans (21-2, 11-1 Big Ten) started the game poorly, missing their first seven shots and committing five turnovers within the first five minutes. However, they quickly found their rhythm, allowing Iriafen to take control.
For the Buckeyes (20-3, 9-3), Taylor Thierry led the way with 14 points before fouling out with 5:37 left in the game, while Cotie McMahon contributed 13 points.
Takeaways
Ohio State faced a tough weekend in Los Angeles, having already lost to top-ranked UCLA by 13 points. They initially led the Trojans by five points, but a second-quarter scoring drought saw them trailing 34-26 at halftime.
For USC, the focus shifts to regaining Watkins’ shooting form as they prepare for an upcoming clash with crosstown rival UCLA. Reducing turnovers will also be crucial, as the Trojans committed 23, marking one of their worst performances of the season.
Key moment
The turning point came in the third quarter when the Trojans closed the period with a 9-2 run, extending their lead to 59-45. Watkins contributed five points during this crucial stretch, while Kayleigh Heckel added four.
Key stat
Watkins’ struggles were evident, as she went 0-for-8 in the first half but managed to sink all four of her free throws. This mirrored her performance against Minnesota the previous week, where she started 0-for-10 but finished with 20 points.
Up next
Ohio State will host Minnesota on Thursday, while USC will face No. 1 UCLA in a highly anticipated sold-out matchup.
