Los Angeles, CA — Kiki Iriafen delivered a standout performance with 24 points and 13 rebounds, leading No. 7 Southern California to an 84-63 victory over No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday night. The Trojans secured the win despite an uncharacteristically tough shooting night for star freshman JuJu Watkins.
Watkins, the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 24.2 points per game, struggled to find her rhythm. She missed her first 11 shots and didn’t score until the third quarter, when she made a layup that brought an enthusiastic reaction from the home crowd. She finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds but shot just 5-for-21 from the field, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.
USC (21-2, 11-1 Big Ten) started slowly, missing its first seven attempts while committing five turnovers in the opening five minutes. However, they eventually took control, pulling away in the second half.
Taylor Thierry led Ohio State (20-3, 9-3) with 14 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter, while Cotie McMahon contributed 13 points.
Game Takeaways:
Ohio State: The Buckeyes had a tough road trip in Los Angeles, dropping both of their matchups after falling to No. 1 UCLA earlier in the week. They started strong against USC, leading by five early and trailing by just one in the second quarter, but a 13-6 Trojan run before halftime put them behind 34-26 at the break.
USC: The Trojans will need Watkins to regain her shooting touch with a critical showdown against UCLA up next. Additionally, ball security remains an issue, as they committed 23 turnovers—their second-highest total of the season.
Turning Point:
USC broke the game open late in the third quarter, closing on a 9-2 run to take a commanding 59-45 lead heading into the final period. Watkins scored five points during the surge, while Kayleigh Heckel added four.
Stat to Know:
Watkins went 0-for-8 from the field in the first half but remained effective at the free-throw line, converting all four attempts. This mirrored her slow start against Minnesota last week, where she shot 0-for-10 in the first half but still managed to finish with 20 points.
Up Next:
Ohio State returns home to face Minnesota on Thursday, while USC hosts top-ranked UCLA in a sold-out crosstown rivalry showdown the same night.
