HARTFORD, Conn. — In an exciting showdown, JuJu Watkins led the No. 7 USC Trojans to a thrilling 72-70 victory over the fourth-ranked UConn Huskies on Saturday night, scoring a total of 25 points. The game showcased a strong rematch between these two teams, echoing their fierce battle in last year’s Elite Eight, which UConn had won. Both teams featured standout performances from their All-American players, Watkins and Paige Bueckers, who spent much of the game defending each other.

Bueckers contributed significantly to UConn’s efforts with 22 points of her own. As the game intensified in the final moments, it was tied at 67 when Watkins set up Rayah Marshall for a crucial layup, putting USC back in the lead with just over a minute remaining.

Following a missed opportunity by UConn, Watkins was fouled with 31 seconds left on the clock. She struggled at the free-throw line initially, missing her first attempt, which wobbled on the rim before falling off. However, she managed to sink her second attempt, extending USC’s lead to 70-67. UConn, which had been trailing significantly at 51-33 in the third quarter, rallied back and responded with a quick basket from Sarah Strong to bring them within one point.

Watkins soon added two more points to the scoreboard with two successful free throws, making it 72-69 with 19.5 seconds remaining. UConn had a final opportunity to equalize when Strong was fouled while attempting a three-pointer with just five seconds on the clock. She successfully made the first free throw but faltered on the second. The third attempt was intentional, and while UConn nabbed the rebound, Strong’s desperate shot as the buzzer sounded missed the mark.

**Key Takeaways:**
For USC, this marked the first significant challenge since their loss to Notre Dame on November 23. They are set to face three ranked Big Ten teams in their next four matchups. On the other hand, UConn faced their second top-10 opponent of the season, becoming 0-2 against ranked teams, having also lost to Notre Dame earlier in the year.

**Key Moment:**
In a pivotal moment earlier in the third quarter, Watkins delivered a remarkable defensive play by blocking Bueckers’ shot, swiftly transitioning down the court to score after executing a ball-handling maneuver right under her opponent’s nose.

**Stat Highlight:**
After setting a school record with 20 three-pointers in their previous game, UConn struggled significantly from beyond the arc in this match, managing only 6 successful attempts out of 23 tries.

**Upcoming Games:**
USC will host Michigan on December 29, while UConn will take on Providence on the same day.