LOS ANGELES — No. 1 seed USC looked sluggish early after its two-week layoff, but once the Trojans turned it on early in the second quarter, they never looked back. USC beat visiting No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro 71-25 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in the Galen Center.
The arena was jam-packed with fans to watch the spectacle that is sophomore guard JuJu Watkins, and they weren’t disappointed. Watkins led the Women of Troy to the victory with 22 points and eight rebounds despite a few bumps and bruises she dealt with. Senior forward Kiki Iriafen added a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double and helped USC out-rebound the Spartans 21-10 on the offensive glass.
“I thought we were a little bit rusty on offense early, but also that was a credit to UNCG, who came out and played some tough D,” Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said after the win. “But I thought we figured it out together. I thought our defense was our calling card [and] I thought the pressure helped get us going.”
Neither team shot the ball well in the first quarter. USC began the game with eight straight points in the first 4:29 of the game before UNC Greensboro answered with a 5-0 run of its own to make it a one-possession game. After that, it was a rock fight for the first 10 minutes with the Trojans making 5 of 14 shots and the Spartans making 3 of 14 in the quarter.
“I think it was pretty evident,” Iriafen said about USC being a little rusty. “We were really excited to just be playing again. We haven’t played in about two weeks playing on our home court. So I think there was a lot of rust but a lot of excitement.”
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The Trojans turned up the heat on UNC Greensboro in the second quarter. UNCG forward Khalis Cain went to the free throw line with 8:39 left in the quarter for two shots, making both. Those were the Spartans’ only points until guard Makiah Asidanya made one of two free throws with 12.6 seconds left in the first half. While the Spartans missed all 11 of their shots and turned it over eight times, USC scored 16 points to continue building its lead.
The slaughter continued to start the second half. USC opened the third quarter with eight straight points before UNC Greensboro answered with a three-pointer, its only field goal of the quarter. The Trojans held their opponent to 1-of-12 shooting in the period and forced nine turnovers. USC had a 37-point lead heading into the final quarter and cruised to the victory as expected.
“I think our defense really helped us in that first half, staying in the game,” Iriafen said, “and then, you know, coach talked some sense into us, and I think we came out much better in the second half.”
Gottlieb laughed, saying they are a good team but have more growth to do.
Cain had six points and guard Jayde Gamble had three points as the only UNCG starters with points. Guard Nya Smith had a team-high seven points off the bench on 2-of-13 shooting.
Player of the Game: JuJu Watkins
(Photo: Shotgun Spratling | USCfootball.com, 247Sports)
Watkins was holding her left hand in the first quarter, and it was clearly bugging her throughout the game. She came down hard rolling her left ankle in the third quarter, and it looked like more ailments. Despite the wincing, she put up 22 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-17 shooting. She also had three steals and two assists but did have seven turnovers.
“It’s the end of the season,” Watkins said. “Body’s a little banged up, but onto the next. Nobody really cares [about someone’s injury]. … I’m all good. Don’t worry.”
Turning Point: One field goal in the middle two quarters
USC limited the Spartans to three points on 0-of-11 shooting in the second quarter and just five points on 1-of-12 from the field in the third quarter while building a 37-point lead.
Key Stat: 32 to 7
USC forced 23 turnovers and turned them into 32 points while turning it over 17 times and allowing seven points off turnovers.
What It Means:
The Trojans beat up on a lesser opponent that clearly was better on defense than offense, but a tournament win is a tournament win. On to the next one.
What’s Next:
Top-seeded USC will face No. 9 seed Mississippi State Monday after it beat No. 8 California Saturday. Details will be announced soon.
Highlights:
Post-Game Press Conference:
