| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSU | 12 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 62 |
| USC | 21 | 22 | 11 | 16 | 70 |
Watkins scores 29, Forbes adds 22 and No. 11 USC turns back Washington State 70-62
USC Trojans vs. Washington State Cougars - Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from USC Trojans vs. Washington State Cougars, 01/26/2024
LOS ANGELES -- — JuJu Watkins scored 29 points with seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks and No. 11 USC held off Washington State 70-62 on Friday night.
McKenzie Forbes added 22 points for the Trojans (14-3, 4-3 Pac-12 Conference), who ended a two-game losing streak. Watkins, a freshman who missed one game this season, has led USC in scoring in every game she has played.
Tara Wallack scored 21 points for the Cougars (14-6, 3-4) and Eleonora Villa had 12. Leading scores Charlisse Leger-Walker and Bella Murekatete, who both average 14-plus points, combined for 13.
USC led by 21 in the middle of the third quarter and by 16 with 4 1/2 minutes to go but the Cougars went on a 9-1 run to finish the game.
Watkins poured in 21 points in the first half and Forbes added 13 as the Trojans raced to a 43-25 lead.
Watkins hit a game-opening jumper and had a 3-pointer that made it 10-0 and she hit a jumper as time expired for a 21-12 lead after one quarter.
Forbes hit a 3-pointer that put the lead in double figures for good at 34-22. Two free throws by Watkins and her second three-point play before Kaitlyn Davis hit a layup in the closing seconds pushed the lead to 18.
Forbes had three 3s as the Trojans were 5 of 10 and Watkins was 6 of 6 from the foul line and the team 8 of 10. Washington State was 4 of 14 behind the arc, made just three free throws and were outrebounded by 10.
A 3-pointer by Taylor Bigby and a free throw by Rayah Marshall put USC up 51-30 near the mid-point of the third quarter but the Cougars went on a 12-3 run to close within 54-42 entering the fourth quarter. The Trojans went 1 of 13 from the floor after Bigby's 3-pointer.
Forbes had the first four points of the fourth quarter for a 16-point lead and Watkins hit a 3 at the 4:38 mark to make it 69-53.
Washington State is at No. 2 UCLA on Sunday when Washington plays at USC.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Brenda Pantoja
- Darren Krzesnik
- Tyler Trimble
2024-25 West Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 10-2 | - | 15-8 |
| Portland | 9-3 | 1 | 20-3 |
| Washington State | 10-4 | 1 | 15-10 |
| Saint Mary's | 7-5 | 3 | 11-10 |
| Pacific | 7-6 | 3.5 | 11-12 |
| Oregon State | 7-6 | 3.5 | 11-13 |
| San Francisco | 7-6 | 3.5 | 10-12 |
| Santa Clara | 6-7 | 4.5 | 12-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 3-9 | 7 | 9-11 |
| Pepperdine | 3-9 | 7 | 8-13 |
| San Diego | 0-12 | 10 | 4-17 |
2024-25 Big Ten Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| USC | 9-0 | - | 19-1 |
| UCLA | 8-0 | 0.5 | 20-0 |
| Ohio State | 8-1 | 1 | 19-1 |
| Maryland | 7-3 | 2.5 | 17-4 |
| Michigan State | 7-3 | 2.5 | 17-4 |
| Nebraska | 7-3 | 2.5 | 16-5 |
| Oregon | 7-3 | 2.5 | 16-5 |
| Minnesota | 6-4 | 3.5 | 18-4 |
| Illinois | 6-4 | 3.5 | 16-5 |
| Indiana | 5-4 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Michigan | 5-5 | 4.5 | 14-7 |
| Washington | 4-5 | 5 | 13-8 |
| Iowa | 4-6 | 5.5 | 14-7 |
| Wisconsin | 2-8 | 7.5 | 11-10 |
| Penn State | 1-10 | 9 | 10-12 |
| Rutgers | 1-10 | 9 | 9-13 |
| Northwestern | 0-8 | 8.5 | 7-12 |
| Purdue | 0-10 | 9.5 | 7-14 |
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