LOS ANGELES — Kiki Iriafen achieved a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds, leading No. 7 Southern California to an impressive 84-63 victory over eighth-ranked Ohio State on Saturday night. This win came even as star player JuJu Watkins faced significant challenges on the offensive end.
Watkins, the leading scorer in the Big Ten with an average of 24.2 points, experienced a rough start, missing her first 11 attempts before finally finding the basket with a layup in the third quarter, which was met with enthusiastic support from the audience. Overall, she concluded the game shooting 5 for 21 from the field, including 1 of 6 from beyond the arc, and ended up with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Trojans had a rocky beginning, as they struggled to find their rhythm, missing their initial seven shots and committing five turnovers in the first five minutes of action. In contrast, the Buckeyes were on the offensive, spearheaded by Taylor Thierry, who recorded 14 points before fouling out with 5:37 left in the game. Cotie McMahon contributed with 13 points.
In terms of implications from the game, Ohio State suffered a challenging trip to Los Angeles, having been previously defeated by top-ranked UCLA by 13 points. The Buckeyes held a five-point lead at the start, but after a close second quarter where they trailed by just one, they fell behind significantly by the half after being outscored 13-6, ending the first half down 34-26.
For the Trojans, regaining Watkins’ scoring efficiency will be crucial as they prepare for their imminent matchup against their local rivals, UCLA. Additionally, the team needs to address their turnover issues, as they committed 23, marking one of their highest totals this season.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred during the third quarter, when the Trojans moved ahead with a 9-2 run, concluding the period with a 59-45 lead going into the final quarter. During this critical stretch, Watkins contributed five points while Kayleigh Heckel chipped in four points.
A key statistic to note was that Watkins finished the first half without making a shot, going 0 for 8, yet managed to sink all four of her free throw attempts. Just the week prior against Minnesota, she also struggled, going 0 for 10 in the first half, yet still managed to finish with 20 points.
Looking ahead, Ohio State will host Minnesota on Thursday, while USC will take on No. 1 UCLA at home the same day in a highly anticipated match that is expected to be sold out.
