JuJu Watkins leads No. 4 USC past No. 22 Michigan State

When the stakes are highest against ranked opponents, JuJu Watkins plays her best basketball — and Wednesday’s game versus No. 22 Michigan State was no exception.

Entering the matchup, Watkins was averaging 24.4 points and 8.0 rebounds against Top 25 opponents. Against the Spartans, she scored 28 points and had eight rebounds in leading led USC to an 83-75 win at the Galen Center, securing the team’s seventh victory over a ranked opponent.

And even when Watkins was slowed down with an early injury, USC (24-2 overall, 14-1 Big Ten) showed why it is one of the nation’s best teams, relying on its depth to step up.

While the win is largely credited to Watkins’ performance, teammate Kiki Iriafen also played at a level comparable to the superstar, something she’s quietly done all season. Both scored in double figures and led the Trojans during crucial moments, securing the victory.

“JuJu and Kiki are the best duo in the country,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “They played like it tonight. It was the type of game where they were trying to make it chaotic. And sometimes players have just had to make plays.”

Michigan State’s game plan was designed to contain Watkins, an all-for-naught effort — by halftime, Watkins had 17 points and four rebounds. Lately, Watkins has elevated her game by playing more confidently, taking high-percentage shots, attacking the rim and creating open looks.

The focus on Watkins down the stretch allowed Iriafen to increase her production in the second half. Iriafen continues to complement Watkins perfectly, a constant the Trojans have had all season.

Iriafen finished with her ninth double-double of the season, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

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“Who wouldn’t want to play with Kiki?” Watkins said. “All you’ve got to do is really give her the ball in the post. It makes my life — and everybody’s life — a lot easier.”

Iriafen’s 11-point outburst in the third quarter extended a 10-point halftime lead to 68-47.

“I was just flowing,” Iriafen said. “I play best when I’m not really thinking about it, having fun. I got back to that this game and did what I needed to do.”

Her stepping up was especially needed with the Trojans’ star going down.

With 3½ minutes left in the second quarter, Watkins hit the floor while trying to defend a post move. As she walked to the locker room, she held her neck in obvious pain.

At the start of the second half, the team’s leading scorer told her coach, “I’m good to go,” and returned to the court. “I got my neck tied up a little bit. I was fine … I was in a little bit of shock,” Watkins said.

Gottlieb was relieved to see her star back on her feet, saying, “There’ve been a lot of times I’ve seen her on the ground and pop right back up.” She suggested that Watkins is a magnet for contact and takes a bit more than she’d like — alluding to the referees then adding, “I don’t want to get myself in trouble.”

The Spartans (19-7, 9-6) gave the Trojans a scare late in the fourth quarter, going on an 11-2 run that cut the lead to just 74-68.
But Watkins’ scoring in the final minutes — three decisive driving layups, one of which led to her hitting the deck again — helped fend off the comeback attempt.

Watkins finished with her 11th game of 25 points or more, continuing her recent stretch of high-scoring performances.

Gottlieb praised her team’s “intent,” an intangible the Trojans will need as they face two more ranked opponents — No. 25 Illinois and No. 3 UCLA — to finish the regular season with the Big Ten tournament looming.

“We can control our destiny the last two games,” Gottlieb said. “To get this far with two games to go, earn a top-four seed, is something. But our goals are bigger than that. Our opportunity is to compete for a championship.”