JuJu Watkins leads USC past UCLA 73-65 at sold-out Galen Center
USC Trojans #12 JuJu Wakins (G) is being challenge on her drive to the basket by UCLA Bruins #51 Lauren Betts (C). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Freshman sensation JuJu Watkins led the USC Trojans (13-1, Pac12, 3-1) with 32 points, ten rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and three steals in a 73-65 victory against the #2 UCLA Bruins (14-1, Pac12, 3-1) at a packed Galen Center. This was Watkins' ninth game with at least 20 points and her sixth 30-point outburst.
Watkins didn't have her finest shooting night, finishing 8-for-22 from the field, but she came up big by going a perfect 16-for-16 from the line. McKenzie Forbes and Kayla Padilla also scored double digits for USC, with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
USC was without starter center Rayah Marshall (13 points and 10.5 rebounds) and reserve Aaliyah Gayles, who were both ill.
Charisma Osborne led the Bruins in scoring with 25 points, while Lauren Betts and Gabriel Jaquez each had ten, and Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones each had eight.
Linsay Gottlieb, the Trojans' head coach, had a gut sense about how they prepared for this game and the effect of both teams having the Galen Center standing room only, changing the enthusiasm about women's college basketball, as she discusses in the video above.
"I felt like this was going to happen," Gottlieb remarked. "Our preparation and mentality was going to give us a chance to win the game."
JuJu Watkins fouled on a layup and knotted the score 4-4 with two free throws. Lauren Betts made a layup, giving UCLA a 6-4 lead. Watkins tied the score 6-6 on a scoop shot in the paint.
UCLA Bruins #20 Charisma Osborne (G) is going up strong to the basket against several USC Trojans defenders. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Watkins would add two more free throws, giving the Trojans a 9-6 advantage. Forbes would score back-to-back three-pointers, giving USC a 15-6 lead. Betts hit another layup, giving the Trojans a 15-8 lead after the first quarter.
UCLA would trail by one point, 17-16, when Gabriela Jaquez hit back-to-back three-pointers, prompting the Trojans to take a timeout with 7:26 remaining before halftime. After the timeout, Watkins drove to the hoop for a layup, giving USC a 19-16 lead.
The Trojans lead by twelve points, 28-16, after Kayla Padilla's three-pointer and Watkins' layup. At halftime, USC led 34-19, with Watkins scoring 16 points and Forbes adding 11.
USC Trojans #25 McKenzie Forbes (G) being guarded by UCLA Bruins #1 Kiki Rice (G). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
In the third quarter, the Bruins outscored USC 23-17, with Osborne scoring 13 points to cut the deficit to 51-42. Watkins committed two early fouls but still managed to score ten points.
Forbes' three-pointer kept USC up 60-48 in the fourth. UCLA scored nine consecutive baskets, capped by Jones' three-pointer, to go up 63-59.
The Bruins trailed 70-65 after Osborne's jump jumper in the paint with 11 seconds remaining in the game, and the Trojans held on to draw the series 1-1.