LOS ANGELES – The No. 7 USC Trojans dominated the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes, winning 84-63 on Saturday night at the Galen Center.
Kiki Iriafen led the Trojans with an impressive performance, scoring 24 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and providing four assists. Iriafen shot 8 of 18 from the field and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line. However, she also recorded five turnovers, which was the highest number of turnovers for any player in the game.
Juju Watkins didn't make her first field goal until the 2:02 mark in the third quarter. She was fouled while driving to the basket, successfully completing a three-point play. Up until that point, she had been 0 for 11, as the Ohio State defense did an excellent job of making Watkins work hard for her points.
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USC Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb talks to guard JuJu Watkins (12) during the second quarter at Galen Center.
Watkins has been struggling lately for the Trojans, especially in the first half of the game. She scored only four points, all from free throws, and went 0 for 8 from the field during that time, remaining scoreless for the first 15 minutes. Ultimately, she finished the game with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Overall, it was a difficult night for Watkins, as she shot just 5 of 21 from the field and 1 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Despite Watkins's slow start, USC maintained the lead thanks to their other star, Iriafen. Iriafen scored 12 points in the first half and played every minute, leading the Buckeyes to a 34-26 first-half lead.
Kennedy Smith dominated the boards, grabbing nine rebounds in the first half along with six points. She provided great energy for the Trojans, finishing the game with her first double-double, 13 points and 13 rebounds, and five assists for the freshman. Smith was perfect from beyond the arc, making all three of her attempts. Coach Gottlieb expressed her gratitude for having a player like Smith on her team, especially as a freshman.
"Really proud of her, she just does her job at an elite level," coach Gottlieb said. "She is incredibly special."
There is a strong connection between Smith and Iriafen on both ends of the court, as they effectively complement each other during the game. Together, they scored a combined total of 37 points and grabbed 26 rebounds, dominating the paint. Kayleigh Heckel and Avery Howell each contributed six points off the bench, making them the only bench scorers for USC.
USC's perimeter defense was strong in the first half, limiting the Buckeyes to just one made three-pointer. In the second half, USC allowed only one more three-pointer, holding the Buckeyes to two made shots out of 11 attempts.
Ohio State's Taylor Thierry led her team with 14 points, five rebounds, and five steals. The Buckeyes capitalized on their defensive efforts by forcing USC to commit 23 turnovers, which they converted into 18 points. Meanwhile, USC managed to allow no second-chance points while scoring 18 points of their own.
The Trojans had 62 total rebounds compared to the Buckeyes’ 30 and 19 offensive rebounds for the Trojans as Rayah Marshall was protecting the inside. While Marshall is the focal point of the defense, she had four blocks to go with her 10 points and eight rebounds.
USC dominated the game, showcasing a strong performance that allowed them to build a lead of as much as 25 points. Their defense was particularly impressive, as they restricted Ohio State to a mere 29.4 percent shooting from the field. Additionally, the Buckeyes struggled even more from beyond the arc, converting only 18.2 percent of their three-point attempts, highlighting USC's effective defensive strategies throughout the game.
The Trojans are set for their biggest and toughest matchup next week as they host their crosstown rivals, the UCLA Bruins, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the country. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb shared her insights about the upcoming game.
“First, we're going to take a day off, then we will have a prep for a really, really, really good UCLA team,” coach Gottlieb said. “They haven’t been beaten yet, and it’s going to be a big task, but I know our players will lock in on that.”
Coach Gottlieb recognizes the significance of the upcoming game against UCLA, both for the team and for the city. She mentioned that she hasn’t been focused on the game just yet, but she plans to mentally prepare and begin her preparations after giving her team a full day off on Sunday. The team will return to practice on Monday.
“I know there will be a lot of pride on the line,” coach Gottlieb said.
USC announced that the game against UCLA is sold out, but you can still find tickets on the secondary market, as SeatGeek has tickets starting at $61 as of Saturday night.