LOS ANGELES, California — February 13th, 2025
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Written by USCtrojans.com
No. 6 USC weathered a third-quarter storm from visiting No. 1 UCLA and then swamped the Bruins in the fourth with a comeback push that netted a 71-60 victory for the Trojans at Galen Center. The win over its rival marked USC's first over an AP top-ranked team since 1983 and handed the Bruins their first loss of the season. USC sophomore JuJu Watkins shined brightly in this one, notching 38 points with 11 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks to help her Trojans improve to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in Big Ten play. UCLA is now 23-1, 11-1.
Watkins delivered 25 of USC's 38 first-half points to help the Trojans lead the Bruins 38-35 at halftime. USC was shooting 38.2 percent overall but was a hot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc by the break. UCLA shots 44.4 percent overall in the first half and had hit one three. The Bruins were bigger on the boards, though, outrebounding USC 23-12 in those first 20 minutes of play. USC stayed largely even on the boards with UCLA in the second half, with the Bruins finishing with a 45-35 advantage, but UCLA went cold from the field during the fourth to see a seven-point lead melt away as USC outscored the Bruins 24-8 in the fourth to secure the upset win. USC wrapped the game shooting 33.3 percent overall while holding UCLA to a season-low 35.1 percent.
Watkins worked her career scoring total out past the 1,500-point mark with her 38 points, notching her 15th career double-double in adding 11 rebounds to go with eight booming blocks and five assists. Kiki Iriafen also got to double digits with 13 points on the night while adding three assists. UCLA was led by Lauren Betts' double-double on 18 points and 13 rebounds, joined in double figures by Kiki Rice's 15 points and 10 from Janiah Barker.
USC flexed some muscle from beyond the arc to open the first frame, with Talia von Oelhoffen opening the action with a 3-pointer. JuJu Watkins drained two of her own to help USC out to an 11-8 lead at 5:10. Her third long one came soon after and was followed by a gutsy finish from Kayleigh Heckel to net a 20-10 lead for USC at 3:55. UCLA carved into that lead with its first 3-pointer of the game and then a score down low, only to see Kennedy Smith step to the stripe for two tosses and then a buzzer-beating bucket falling for von Oelhoffen to take the Trojans to a 24-15 lead at the end of the first. It was all Watkins for USC in the second, as the sophomore nailed two more 3-pointers and had a fine finish on a jumper as USC maneuvered ahead 32-18 with 6:30 on the clock. Her 21st points of the night had USC up 34-21 a minute later. The Bruins found a groove, though, making a 14-1 scoring push to even things up. Watkins had the final word on the offensive end with her fifth 3-pointer to tug the Trojans ahead 38-35 in the final minute, and then the USC defense went to work and forced a shotclock violation out of the Bruins to keep that advantage on the board for halftime.
The Bruins were firing out of the gates in the second half, scoring 10 straight points to work into the lead and get out ahead 45-38 three minutes into the half. Kiki Iriafen broke up that rally with a successful trip to the line, and then Watkins made good on a three-point play to get USC back within two at 5:20. UCLA created some space again with five straight points, and USC was only able to land free throws down the stretch as the third closed with UCLA up 52-47. Watkins was the fuel for the Trojans to open there fourth, serving up an early assist to Kennedy Smith and then pumping in back-to-back buckets after stuffing three Bruin shots. Watkins' 34th points of the night had USC up 53-52 at 5:58. After a back-and-forth battle saw the lead trade hands, Avery Howell knocked down a clutch 3-pointer to light a fuse for USC. UCLA went cold from the floor for four and a half minutes, netting only free throws, while USC built out a double-digit lead. USC made a 12-1 rally that was topped off by a three-point play from Iriafen, and USC gripped a 67-57 advantage with 2:25 to go. The Trojans stayed the course down the stretch, with Iriafen striking again and von Oelhoffen draining two free throws before the Bruins broke their silence with a late bucket that wrapped the game as a 71-60 USC victory.
Read More: https://usctrojans.com/news/2025/2/13/womens-basketball-juju-watkins-scores-38-as-no-6-usc-womens-basketball-hands-no-1-ucla-its-first-loss-in-71-58-decision-at-galen-center.aspx