LOS ANGELES — JuJu Watkins walked into the postgame interview room without a limp, a positive sign after getting banged up during No. 1 Southern California’s 71-25 win over No. 16 UNC Greensboro.
Watkins, a first-team All-American, fell on her left wrist in the second quarter at the Galen Center. Then she rolled her ankle in the third quarter. She still led her team with 22 points and eight rebounds in the NCAA tournament Round 1 game.
Southern California (31-2) will play the winner of the California-Mississippi State game Monday in the second round.
JuJu Watkins updates injury status after game
So what happened?
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“I don’t know,” Watkins said. “You know it’s end of the season, body’s a little banged up. But on to the next…”
And she’s OK?
“Oh, yeah,” she said. “I’m all right. Don’t worry.’’
How JuJu Watkins injury happened
Watkins, who already had a taped wrist and fingers after the second-quarter fall, twisted her ankle on a drive to the basket. Hobbling as she rejoined her teammates, Watkins promptly buried a 3-pointer. She then exited the game with a trainer before returning to the bench.
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Watkins returned for the start of the fourth quarter. She made one of three shot attempts and was pulled at the 6:18 mark in the quarter. Watkins was visibly frustrated on the bench with her day over. She finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Immediately after the game, Watkins didn’t offer much insight into the injuries aside from saying they were “small things.”
“Ya know, the end of the season knick-knacks, small things, maintenance things,” Watkins said on the ESPN broadcast when asked what happened to her pinky and ankle. “Regardless, nobody cares, so continue to do what I do.”