COLLEGE PARK, Md. — JuJu Watkins and the Southern California Trojans have made an impressive start in their first season as part of the Big Ten, showcasing their ability to handle travel and competition effectively.

On Wednesday night, the Trojans, ranked No. 4, celebrated a critical victory over No. 8 Maryland, defeating the Terrapins 79-74 and handing them their first loss of the season. This win followed a stunning rout of Rutgers, where USC triumphed with a remarkable score of 92-42 just days earlier.

Watkins acknowledged the challenges posed by their extended East Coast trip, sharing, “We’ve been on the East Coast now for like four days. It’s freezing.” Despite the cold and her less-than-stellar shooting performance — 7-for-19 from the field, eight turnovers, and ultimately fouling out in the closing minute — she managed to contribute 21 points, her lowest scoring tally in nearly a month. Kiki Iriafen also matched her with 21 points, helping USC secure the win by closing the game on an 18-6 run.

“We just kind of have this unwavering confidence in ourselves,” Watkins stated. “It was just a matter of coming together and closing the game out.” The Trojans are making the most of their travel experiences; they previously traveled to Paris to face off against Mississippi in November and recently played against UConn in Connecticut last month.

This current trip has been a valuable learning experience for the squad. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb noted the transition to a new conference after their time in the Pac-12, saying, “The Pac-12 was two games in a weekend, Friday-Sunday, and everyone’s doing the same thing. Now we’re like, ‘Wait, who’s playing who when?’” She emphasized that adjusting to the scheduling and keeping the game plan consistent for the players is crucial.

Furthermore, this season is allowing the Trojans to showcase their talent in regions where they may be less recognized, such as facing Maryland for the first time in nearly three decades, drawing a crowd of 14,735 fans. “It’s just platforms for them that we have never had before, and that’s a really positive thing,” Gottlieb remarked, highlighting the importance of making each experience as smooth as possible for her team. “We’ll go anywhere and play. I think our players have proven that.”