COLLEGE PARK, MD – The No. 4 USC Trojans defeated the undefeated No. 8 Maryland Terrapins on the road, with Kiki Iriafen and Juju Watkins each scoring 21 points in a 79-74 victory on Wednesday night at the XFINITY Center.
Watkins fouled out of the game with less than a minute remaining. After setting a career-high with 14 rebounds in the previous game, she recorded nine rebounds, two assists, and had eight turnovers this time. Iriafen played a crucial role in keeping her team competitive with her offensive contributions, but it was her defense, along with Rayah Marshall, where they both made a difference.
Marshall made only 1 of his 8 field goal attempts but was able to grab 14 rebounds and record two blocks.
Iriafen executed a powerful move under the basket, pivoting and drawing a foul with 90 seconds left in the game, which put the team ahead by three points. Following that, Marshall delivered a crucial block against Shyanne Sellers, which helped secure the victory. Avery Howell extended the Trojans' lead to five points by making two free throws with just 13 seconds remaining. Overall, Howell finished the game with 10 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Kayleigh Heckel also contributed 10 points off the bench; she received a pass from Watkins, drove to the basket, and scored while drawing a foul, tying the game in the third.
USC was on the verge of experiencing their second loss of the season. However, Watkins and Iriafen received essential support from the bench, especially from a freshman. Late in the fourth quarter, with USC trailing by seven points, Kennedy Smith made a three-pointer from the wing, capping off a personal 7-0 run that tied the game. Smith concluded the game with 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
This run ultimately saved the Trojans from what could have been a disastrous outcome, especially considering they committed a total of 19 turnovers compared to Maryland’s 11. Additionally, the Trojans were limited to just three fast-break points throughout the contest.
The Trojans successfully held the Terrapins, a team that averages 83.4 points per game, to just 74 points, limiting them to 2 out of 14 from three-point range. The Trojans played excellent defense, forcing Maryland to attack the basket due to their strong perimeter defense. As a result, Maryland outscored the Trojans in the paint, 40 to 26. The Terrapins led as much as nine points in the game.
Maryland put up a great defensive strategy to slow down Watkins, but couldn’t hold off Iriafen, Smith and Howell from scoring. The Terrapins suffered their first season loss after winning 14 straight to start the season.
After going undefeated on their road trip, The Trojans (15-1, 5-0) return to Los Angeles to face Penn State (9-6, 0-4) on Sunday night at the Galen Center.