Los Angeles — In an impressive display of skill, JuJu Watkins scored 21 points, contributed nine assists, and made six steals, propelling No. 3 Southern California to a commanding 124-39 victory over Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night.
The Trojans improved to a record of 3-0, with six players reaching double digits in scoring. Kiki Iriafen led the charge with 15 points, while Kayleigh Heckel came off the bench to add another 14 points. All 13 players who took the court for USC managed to get on the scoreboard.

For the Matadors, Laini Dahlin was the top scorer with 11 points, followed by Erika Aspajo, who managed to contribute 10 points in the losing effort. The Matadors, now 2-1, are in the midst of a challenging four-game road trip under first-year head coach Angie Ned. Despite the influx of new talent on the squad, the team is relying on its seven upperclassmen to provide much-needed leadership.

USC’s head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, celebrated her 300th career victory during this game. After the final buzzer, her players joyfully waved signs reading ‘300’ while jubilantly surrounding her in celebration.

Key Takeaways: For Cal State Northridge, the ongoing road trip presents both challenges and opportunities. The remaining two games will also take place in California, and the team aims to build on their experience despite the changes in their roster. On the other hand, USC has shown remarkable momentum, following a narrow victory over then-No. 20 Ole Miss in Paris with back-to-back blowout wins, including a 55-point triumph over Cal Poly last week. However, their schedule will tighten significantly this month with the upcoming match against No. 6 Notre Dame on the horizon.

One pivotal moment in the game occurred right at the outset. The Trojans dominated from the opening tip-off, outpacing the Matadors 30-6 in the first quarter and limiting their opponents to just seven points in the second, securing a staggering lead of 60-13 by halftime.

Statistically, the Matadors struggled with ball control, committing an astonishing 43 turnovers that resulted in 63 points for their opponents. Erica Adams faced the toughest night with 10 turnovers, while Nnenna Orji followed closely with seven.

Looking ahead, Cal State Northridge is set to face Fresno State on November 22, while USC will host Santa Clara on Friday.