LOS ANGELES - February 23rd, 2024
Intro | 0:00 - 0:31
Video Credit | @DroneSnap
Song Credit | @2PacOfficialYT (I Get Around)
No. 7 USC and an entertained crowd at Galen Center enjoyed an effective night's work in collecting an 87-81 win over visiting No. 11 Colorado. Shots were falling fast and furiously on both end of the court in the high-powered affair as the Trojans and Buffs shot a combined 57 percent from the floor. USC's JuJu Watkins had almost half of the Trojans' scoring total, pinning up 42 points to set a record for most points scored by any USC player - male or female - at Galen Center. With USC's seventh straight win, the Trojans are now 21-4 overall and 11-4 in Pac-12 play, while Colorado goes to 20-6, 10-5.
Fifteen 3-pointers fell in the first half, with USC landing 10 of those to craft a lead that was quickly carved down by three Colorado 3-pointers in the last 90 seconds of the half to make it a 47-43 margin at the break. USC was shooting 60 percent from the floor to that point, with Colorado at a steamy 72.7 percent. That meant there wasn't much work to do on the boards on either end, with the Buffs grabbing nine rebounds to six by the Trojans. By the final buzzer, USC had won out on the boards 22-20. Colorado finished up shooting 57.1 percent from the floor to just outpace USC's final 56.8 percent, but the Trojans were an effective 68 percent from 3-point range and went a program-record 24-of-25 from the free-throw line to fend off the Buffs.
Watkins' 42-point effort paired with 24 points from McKenzie Forbes and 12 from Kayla Padilla, with those three combining for all 13 of USC's made 3-pointers on the night. Colorado had five players finish in double digits: Aaronette Vonleh (18 points), Quay Miller (12), Jaelyn Sherrod (11), Kindly Wetta (11) and Maddie Nolan (11).
Watkins had 15 of USC's 22 points in the first quarter, landing a pair of 3-pointers and contributing to a 6-0 rally with a three-point play after McKenzie Forbes 3-pointer as USC got out ahead 22-15. But the Buffs bit back with two scores in the last 20 seconds, and it was a 22-19 margin after 10 minutes of play. USC's 3-point game continued to click in the second. Forbes landed four from beyond the arc while Watkins and Kayla Padilla also planted long ones, and USC was enjoying a 47-41 lead with 1:41 left in the half. Once again, Colorado was undeterred, and the Buffs showed their range as well with three 3-pointers falling to wrap the half as a 47-43 USC lead.
USC's 11th three of the night was punched in by Padilla to net an early 53-46 lead before the Buffs battled back again and got back out ahead with an 11-0 rally to lead it 57-53 at 6:45. Kaitlyn Davis stopped the run with a strike in the paint for the Trojans at 6:15, and USC would later fire off a 10-2 push to lead it 67-61 by the end of the third. Colorado came up empty from the floor for the last 5:20 of play, managing just a pair of free throws in that span while USC worked out ahead. Watkins delivered USC's first 10 points of the fourth as USC moved out ahead 77-67. A steal and finish from Kaitlyn Davis made it 79-69, and then Watkins got to 40 points on the night while USC stayed the course and wrapped up a final 87-81 victory.
NEXT:
USC now sets up for its final regular-season home game of the season as the Trojans host No. 18 Utah at 12 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 25). USC will celebrate its six graduating Women of Troy at Sunday's game, honoring Kaitlyn Davis, McKenzie Forbes, Roxane Makolo, India Otto, Kayla Padilla and Kayla Williams.
NOTABLE:
- With 42 points tonight, FR JuJu Watkins recorded her 11th game this season with 30 or more points scored, setting a new USC record for single-season 30-plus performances.
- Watkins' 42 points is the most points ever scored by a USC basketball player (male or female) at Galen Center.
- Watkins' 42 points is the most ever scored by a player against Colorado.
- Watkins' 18-of-18 effort from the free-throw line was her 10th perfect outing and set a new USC record for single-game FT% (also ties the best FT effort by any NCAA women's player this season).
- Watkins has led USC in scoring in 23 of the 24 games she's played as a Trojan.
- With five 3-pointers made tonight, GS McKenzie Forbes has hit at least one three in the past 23 games
- With 24 points, Forbes recorded her fourth 20-plus scoring outing of the season
- Going 5-of-6 from 3-point range, Forbes set a new season high in made threes and single-game 3-point percentage.