INDIANAPOLIS — The USC Trojans survive in a thriller against the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, 82-70, on Saturday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
After defeating the Wolverines, USC will face the winner of the Ohio State vs. UCLA game on Sunday afternoon for the Big Ten Conference Championship. If the Bruins advance, it will mark the third matchup this season between the crosstown rivals, as the Trojans have already won the first two encounters.
This is the second consecutive Big Ten championship appearance for the Triojans with Watkins leading the program to the top of the country.
Juju Watkins and the USC Trojans had another challenging start, struggling to control the tempo in the first half and trailing by as much as nine points. It wasn't until midway through the third quarter that head coach Lindsay Gottlieb called a timeout, which sparked a 7-0 run and brought the Trojans back into the game. From that point on, they never looked back, eventually establishing a 12-point lead after going on a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter.
The USC duo played a significant role in the semifinals, overcoming challenges in the first half. Watkins leads the team with the most 20-point games this season, recording a total of 25. In the semifinals, she finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. However, she struggled with six turnovers and faced foul trouble, which limited her defensive efforts without fouling. Watkins had no success from beyond the arc, going 0 for 3, which marks her fourth game this season without making a three-pointer.
Kiki Iriafen delivered a stellar performance, stepping up when Watkins was struggling. She scored effectively in the low post and recorded another double-double, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists. Iriafen was supported by senior Rayah Marshall, who returned after missing Friday's game due to illness. Marshall's presence was exactly what USC needed, contributing nine points and three rebounds while shooting 4 of 6 from the field.
The pace of the game shifted in favor of the Trojans as the Wolverines played excellent defense against Watkins, doubling her every time she received the ball. In the first half, she scored only four points and shot 2 of 9 from the field. However, Watkins came alive in the second half, scoring 16 points and energizing her teammates. Malia Samuels also made a significant impact when she entered the game, providing a spark off the bench for USC. Samuels contributed with a clutch three-pointer and completed a three-point play as she drove to the basket on a fast break, expressing her excitement toward the crowd late in the fourth quarter.
There was a tense moment in the second half when freshman Kennedy Smith went down in pain, clutching her knee. She appeared visibly emotional on the USC bench and later as she left for the locker room. Coach Gootlieb reported that she was experiencing cramps and provided her with a heating sleeve for her leg before she returned to the game. Smith's defensive presence is crucial if the Trojans aim to make an impact during the March Madness Tournament. Smith finished with nine points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
In the loss, Michigan's Syla Swords led her team with 26 points and six rebounds. Olivia Olson had a tough time shooting, going 5 of 15 from the field and finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Jordan Hobbs was the third Wolverine to reach double figures, contributing 12 points and four rebounds.
Both teams recorded 17 turnovers, and both struggled with their three-point shooting: the Trojans made 5 of 18 attempts, while the Wolverines were 4 of 15. Although it wasn’t a strong offensive night for either team, the Trojans managed to secure the win by making crucial defensive stops and scoring 29 points in the fourth quarter. Interestingly, USC had only scored 29 points combined in the entire first half.