Sunday, February 23
Los Angeles, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
USC
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Illinois
Players Mentioned
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Photo by: Travis Ellison
No. 4 USC Women’s Basketball Hosts No. 25 Illinois In First-Ever Meeting
February 21, 2025 | Women's Basketball
On Senior Day this Sunday, the Trojans take on the Fighting Illini for the first time in program history.
#4 USC (24-2, 14-1) vs. #25 Illinois (21-6, 11-5)
Galen Center | Los Angeles | Sunday, Feb. 23 | 1 p.m.
Series Record: FIRST MEETING
WATCH: FS1 (Talent: Guy Haberman & Elise Woodward) | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 4 USC (24-2, 14-1 Big Ten) now turns to celebrate Senior Day on Sunday (Feb. 23) with a 1 p.m. meeting against No. 25 Illinois (21-6, 11-5). USC will be honoring its five graduating Trojans at that game — Clarice Akunwafo, Dominique Darius, Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen.
FOLLOW ALONG
USC's game against Illinois will be broadcast on FS1 with Guy Haberman and Elise Woodward on the call. All of USC's games also are available live on ESPN radio and with audio streamed at USCTrojans.com/listen and the USC Trojans GameDay app with Eli Kleinmann on the radio calls.
IN THE POLLS
USC is ranked No. 4 in the latest AP and USA TODAY Coaches polls (as of Feb. 18). The Trojans were ranked No. 3 in both the AP and USA TODAY preseason polls and the national polls for the first three weeks of the 2024-25 season, marking their highest preseason ranking since 1984, when USC opened at No. 1 after winning back-to-back national championships. USC finished last season ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll.
QUICK HITS
• Now 24-2 overall, USC has its best start since the 1982-83 season when USC went 31-2.
• USC has recorded back-to-back seasons with 23 regular-season wins for the first time since 1983 and 1984.
• USC's 19-1 start to the season was its best since the 1981-82 season, and its 9-0 start in conference play was its best since the 1993-94 season.
• USC's 15-game win streak during this season was its longest since the 1982-83 season.
• The Trojans have recorded wins streaks of 10 or more straight games during back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons.
• The Trojans are 4-1 against top-10 opponents this season and 2-0 in road games vs. top-10 opponents.
• USC's win over UCLA was its second over an AP top-10 opponent in program history — last in 1983.
• Lindsay Gottlieb earned her 300th career victory as a head coach in USC's on Nov. 12 (123-39 vs. CSUN).
• Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins became just the second USC duo to score 30-plus points each in a game with their efforts vs. SLU on Nov. 29. [The first was Lisa Leslie and Tammy Story vs. Texas on Nov. 25, 1990.]
• Iriafen scored her 1,500th career point during USC's win at Washington on Feb. 16.
• Watkins has scored in double digits in all 26 USC games this season.
• Watkins has hit at least one 3-pointer in the last 21 games.
• Watkins scored her 1,000th career point on Nov. 15 vs. Santa Clara, becoming the fastest player in USC history to reach the 1,000-point mark in her career (38 games).
• The previous record was 48 games — set by Cheryl Miller in 1983-84.
• Watkins's 1,000 points in 38 games is the second fastest in Division 1 women's basketball history. She is the third player to hit the mark in 38 games, behind three other players who did it in 37.
• Watkins is the 30th Trojan to score 1,000 points at USC.
• Watkins became the 13th Trojan to score 1,500 career points with her 38-point outing in USC's Feb. 13 win over No. 1 UCLA.
• Now with 1,552 career points, Watkins ranks No. 12 all-time in scoring at USC.
• Watkins broke the USC single-game 3-point record with nine 3-pointers made vs. CBU on Dec. 3.
• Rayah Marshall scored her 1,000th career point on Nov. 9 vs. Cal Poly. She became the 29th USC player to have scored 1,000 or more points as a Trojan.
• On Jan. 5, Marshall collected her 1,000th career rebound, making her one of only eight Trojans to have scored 1,000 points along with 1,000 rebounds at USC.
• Marshall ranks No. 3 all-time at USC in career blocks (289) and No. 7 in career rebounds (1,086).
• Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 23 games she has played (54 total in that span).
• USC has recorded two 100-plus point games this season — the most since two in 1993-94.
• USC's 124 points scored vs, CSUN is the most points in a game in program history.
• The 85-point win vs, CSUN is USC's largest margin of victory in history.
• USC's 124 points vs, CSUN is the second most in Big Ten history, behind Purdue's 129 vs. Kent State (12/8/90).
• USC's win over No. 20 Ole Miss on Nov. 4 marked the first time in program history that the Trojans have played and beaten ranked opponents in back-to-back season openers.
• Also in that Nov. 4 win, USC had two players record double-doubles (Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins) in a season opener for the first time since 2010 (Briana Gilbreath and Christina Marinacci vs. Gonzaga).
• At 29-6 overall last season, USC recorded its most wins since going 31-5 in 1985-86.
• Last season, USC earned the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986.
• USC's 2024 NCAA Elite Eight run was its first since 1994.
• USC's 23 regular-season wins last season marked its most such victories since 1993-94.
LAST ACTION
USC manufactured its seventh win over a ranked opponent in a good battle against No. 22 Michigan State that ended in an 83-75 Trojan victory at Galen Center. JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen combined for 52 points in the win, which improved USC to 24-2 overall and 14-1 in Big Ten play, securing a double bye for USC in the coming Big Ten Tournament as an assured top-four seed. USC maneuvered into the lead with a 13-2 push during the first frame and held a 10-point lead for halftime with a 41-31 margin over Michigan State. The Trojans had shot 40 percent from the floor and was 14-of-18 from the free-throw line in a foul-interrupted first half. The Spartans were shooting 32.3 percent overall and had gone 10-of-12 from the stripe when halftime hit. Michigan State was ahead on the boards 21-19 to that point. USC upped its action on the boards in the second half to finish out with 45 to MSU's 37. Both teams heated up offensively, with USC finishing out a 43.3 percent to the Spartans' 40.6 percent. USC ended up making and attempting season-high free throws, going 26-of-35 from the line. MSU was 18-of-23 from the stripe on the night. USC received 28 points from JuJu Watkins and another double-double from Kiki Iriafen on 24 points and 10 rebounds. Kennedy Smith also got to double digits with 13 points scored, while Rayah Marshall hauled in 12 rebounds for the Trojans. Michigan State received a game-high 29 points from Grace VanSlooten along with 16 points and 10 rebounds from Julia Ayrault and 12 points from Theryn Hallock.
NOTABLE:
- With 28 points, SO JuJu Watkins moves into 12th all-time in scoring at USC — now with 1,552 career points.
- Watkins has scored in double figures in all 26 games this season and in all but one career game (9 vs. Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship game on March 20, 2024).
- With two 3-pointers made, Watkins has hit at least one three in USC's last 21 games.
- With 24 points, GS Kiki Iriafen has scored in double digits in 25 of the 26 games she has played this season.
- This was Iriafen's ninth game as a Trojan scoring at least 20 points.
- With 10 rebounds, Iriafen notched her ninth double-double of the season.
- This is the eighth game where Iriafen and Watkins have each recorded 20+ points (Last: Iriafen (23) and Watkins (20) vs. Minnesota on 1/30/25).
- With eight points scored tonight, SR Rayah Marshall moves into 22nd all-time in career scoring at USC — now with 1,179 career points.
- With two blocks, Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 23 games she has played (54 total in that span).
- With a game-high 12 rebounds, Marshall has recorded double-digit rebounds in nine games this season.
- With two steals, FR Kennedy Smith has recorded at least one steal in 16 of 19 games played.
- This is USC's fourth game this season where six players recorded at least one block (Previous: vs. Ohio State on 2/8/25).
- USC scored 83 points tonight, the second-most allowed in a game by the Spartans this season. MSU entered tonight holding opponents to 62.0 points per game.
- USC improved to 21-0 when scoring 70 or more points in a game this season.
- USC shot a season-high 35 free throws (previous most was 34 vs. Saint Louis on Nov. 29, 2024)
- USC's 26 made free throws also was a season high (previous most also vs. SLU with 24)
- USC held Michigan State to 8.3 percent shooting from 3-point range (1-for-12), a season-low for a USC opponent.
- MSU's one 3-pointer made was its season low for a game this season.
- USC is now 7-1 against ranked opponents this season.
DOWN GOES NUMBER ONE
USC weathered a third-quarter storm from visiting No. 1 UCLA and then swamped the Bruins in the fourth with a comeback push that netted a 71-60 victory for the Trojans at Galen Center. The win over its rival marked USC's first over an AP top-ranked team since 1983 and handed the Bruins their first loss of the season. USC sophomore JuJu Watkins shined brightly in this one, notching 38 points with 11 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks to help her Trojans improve to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in Big Ten play. UCLA is now 23-1, 11-1. Watkins delivered 25 of USC's 38 first-half points to help the Trojans lead the Bruins 38-35 at halftime. USC was shooting 38.2 percent overall but was a hot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc by the break. UCLA shots 44.4 percent overall in the first half and had hit one three. The Bruins were bigger on the boards, though, outrebounding USC 23-12 in those first 20 minutes of play. USC stayed largely even on the boards with UCLA in the second half, with the Bruins finishing with a 45-35 advantage, but UCLA went cold from the field during the fourth to see a seven-point lead melt away as USC outscored the Bruins 24-8 in the fourth to secure the upset win. USC wrapped the game shooting 33.3 percent overall while holding UCLA to a season-low 35.1 percent. Watkins worked her career scoring total out past the 1,500-point mark with her 38 points, notching her 15th career double-double in adding 11 rebounds to go with eight booming blocks and five assists. Kiki Iriafen also got to double digits with 13 points on the night while adding three assists. UCLA was led by Lauren Betts' double-double on 18 points and 13 rebounds, joined in double figures by Kiki Rice's 15 points and 10 from Janiah Barker.
NOTABLE:
- This is USC's first program win over an AP No. 1-ranked team since 1983 (last vs. Louisiana Tech [W, 69-67] in the national title game). USC is now 2-10 all-time against AP top-ranked opponents.
- With this win, USC snaps the Bruin's 23-0 win streak. The last time UCLA came to Galen, the Trojans snapped their 14-0 undefeated streak.
- This was USC's first win after trailing entering the fourth quarter (now 1-2 in those situations).
- The Trojans kept the Bruins to a season-low 60 points. They were averaging 80.6 points scored in a game, and allowing 54.7 points by opponents.
- USC held UCLA to a season-low 35.5% shooting percentage.
- This was the third game of the season between top-10 opponents at Galen Center (first was Nov. 23, 2024 vs. then-No. 6 Notre Dame, second was Feb. 8, 2025 vs. then No. 8 Ohio State).
- USC is now 4-1 vs. top-10 opponents this season.
- With 32 points at 6:23 in the fourth quarter, SO JuJu Watkins hit 1,500 career points.
- With 38 points, Watkins has scored in double figures in all 24 games this season.
- This is Watkins' 19th career 30-point game and fifth 30-point game this season.
- Watkins' 25 points in the first half was the most she scored in a first this season.
- Watkins is now at No. 13 all-time in scoring at USC with 1,507 career points.
- Also with 11 rebounds, Watkins recorded her sixth double-double this season and 15th as a Trojan.
- With 13 points, GS Kiki Iriafen has scored in double digits in 23 of the 24 games she has played this season.
- With eight blocks, Watkins has recorded a new career high. It ties the third-most in a game by a Trojan (last was SR Rayah Marshall against Washington on 11/22/23).
- With six 3-pointers made, Watkins has hit at least one three in USC's last 19 games. It ties the third-most threes made by a Trojan all time.
- With one 3-pointer, GS Talia von Oelhoffen has hit at least one three in the last seven games.
- With two blocks, Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 21 games she has played (51 total in that span).
- With three steals, SR Clarice Akunwafo tied her career high.
- With two assists, Akunwafo tied her season high.
- With one steal tonight, FR Kennedy Smith has recorded at least one steal in 14 of 17 games played.
- USC's 22-2 start to the season is its best since the 1982-83 season.
- USC is now 20-0 when scoring 70 or more points and 19-0 when holding an opponent to under 70 points.
- USC is now 18-0 when holding an opponent to a field goal percentage lower than 40%.
- USC's 13 total blocks was a season high. It ties the third-most blocked shots by the Trojans in a game (last vs. California on 2/4/22), and the most since recording 14 blocks against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on 3/23/24.
BEATING THE BUCKEYES
USC shrugged off a slow start, passed up visiting No. 8 Ohio State and then hit the gas to collect an 84-59 win over the Buckeyes. Three Trojans recorded double-doubles in the win — the first such effort since 2009 —to help propel USC to a key Big Ten win, improving to 21-2 overall and 11-1 in conference play. Ohio State is now 20-3, 9-3. USC overcame an early five-point deficit with a composed response and a concerted effort on the boards. USC gripped a 34-26 halftime advantage with help from 30 rebounds and a 32.1 percent shooting effort to outpace Ohio State's 30.6 percent from the floor and 15 rebounds by the break. The Trojans continued to dominate on the rebounding front, hauling in 62 boards to mark the most in a game since 1999. USC finished out the game shooting 39.7 percent from the field, while the Buckeyes wrapped at 29.4 percent. USC's onslaught was keyed by Kiki Iriafen's game-high 24 points along with 13 rebounds, joined in the double-double camp by Kennedy Smith with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and JuJu Watkins on 17 points and 10 rebounds. Rayah Marshall also hit double digits in the win with 10 points while adding four blocks for the Trojan cause. Ohio State also finished with four in double digits: Taylor Thierry (14 points), Cotie McMahon (13), Chance Gray (12) and Jalopy Cambridge (11).
NOTABLE:
- USC's 62 rebounds is a season-high, the highest number of rebounds recorded this century and the highest since Dec. 11, 1999 against Sacramento State. USC's 32 rebound advantage (62-30) is a season game high. It is also USC's biggest rebound advantage in a game since outrebounding Hope International by 33 on Nov. 13, 2015 (52-19).
- USC is now 3-1 this season vs. top-10 opponents.
- This was the second game of the season between top-10 opponents at Galen Center (last was Nov. 23, 2024 vs. then-No. 6 Notre Dame)
- With 13 points and 13 rebounds, FR Kennedy Smith recorded the first double-double of her career.
- Smith set a career-high in rebounds (13), and matched her career highs in assists (5), blocks (2) and 3-pointers made (3).
- With 24 points, GS Kiki Iriafen has scored in double digits in 22 of the 23 games she has played this season.
- Also with a season-high 13 rebounds, Iriafen recorded her eighth double-double of the season and eighth game of the season with 20+ points.
- With 17 points, SO JuJu Watkins has scored in double figures in all 22 games this season.
- Watkins is now tied at No. 14 all-time in scoring at USC with 1,469 career points.
- Also with 10 rebounds, Watkins recorded her fifth double-double this season and 14th as a Trojan.
- This is the first time since Dec. 3, 2009 (vs. Long Beach State) that three Trojans recorded double-doubles in the same game.
- With one 3-pointer made, Watkins has hit at least one three in USC's last 18 games.
- With four blocks tonight, SR Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 20 games she has played (49 total in that span).
- USC is now 19-0 when scoring 70 or more points and 18-0 when holding an opponent to under 70 points.
- With this win, USC moves to 18-0 when outrebounding an opponent.
- USC scored an Ohio State opponent season-high of 84 points. The last time Ohio State allowed more points in a game was the 2024 regular season finale at Iowa on March 3, when it surrendered 93 points on Caitlin Clark's senior day (93-83 loss). The Buckeyes entered this game allowing only 59.1 points per game.
AVERY SCORES B1G HONORS
Avery Howell earned her first conference award with her selection as the Big Ten Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week on Jan. 27. She set new career highs in several categories during USC's win at Purdue, helping the Trojans to their 14th consecutive win and an 18-1 overall record. Howell's career-high 18 points scored against the Boilermakers included new high marks for her with four 3-pointers made and a perfect 6-for-6 effort from the free-throw line. Howell also notched a career-high three steals in USC's 79-37 win at Purdue. She led all scorers in the game with her point total and threes landed — this four 3-pointers helped account for 11 total by the Trojans to mark the most three USC has made in a Big Ten game this season and tying the second most in any game this season.
ANOTHER TOP-10 ROAD TAKEDOWN
USC forced nine ties before making a late-game surge to victory to beat previously undefeated No. 8 Maryland 79-72 in College Park, Md. JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen had 21 points apiece for the Trojan cause, while freshmen Kayleigh Heckel, Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith and senior Rayah Marshall each came up with clutch plays for USC down the stretch to help claim an 11th straight win. Maryland crafted a nine-point lead during the first quarter before USC got its feet under it and took its first lead midway through the second quarter. USC would grip a 35-34 lead by halftime on 39.4-percent shooting from the floor — ahead of the Terrapins' 31.6 percent overall. Both teams had hit a pair of 3-pointers apiece by the break, while the Trojans were just ahead on the boards 23-22. Only one bucket would fall for Maryland in the last 2:40 of action while the Trojans made their winning push in College Park. USC wrapped the game at 40.6 percent shooting overall and held Maryland to 36.5 percent from the floor. USC went bigger on the boards as well, outrebounding the Terps 47-40 thanks in part to a season-high 15 rebounds from Marshall. Marshall also delivered four blocks for the Trojan cause, while Watkins hauled in nine rebounds to go with her 21 points. Iriafen also hit 21, and freshmen Howell (11 points) Heckel (10) and Smith (10) also finished in double digits for USC. Maryland was paced by a game-high 26 points from Shyanne Sellers, 16 points from Kaylene Smikle and 15 from Christina Dalce. Saylor Poffenbarger pulled in 17 rebounds for the Terps, and Dalce had 12.
NOTABLE:
- With a season-high 15 rebounds, Marshall recorded her sixth double-digit rebound game this season.
- Watkins (21 points) and Iriafen (21) have now both scored in double digits in all 16 USC games this season.
- This is Iriafen's fifth game as a Trojan scoring 20+ points.
- With 10 points, Heckel scored in double digits for the fourth time this season; she also tied her career high with four assists.
- With two steals, SO Malia Samuels has recorded at least one steal in USC's last eight games.
- Smith tied her career high in rebounds with eight.
- This is the third game this season with five or more Trojans in double-digit scoring.
- USC moved to 13-0 when holding an opponent under 40% shooting from the floor.
- USC played this game without GS Talia von Oelhoffen due to injury.
- SO Malia Samuels was in the starting lineup for the first time this season
WE WIN AT UCONN
USC answered a gut check in Hartford, Conn., fighting off a late push by No. 4 host UConn to ring up a tense 72-70 victory over the Huskies — USC's first over UConn in program history. The Trojans had led by as much as 18 points early in the second half, only to see the Huskies bite back in front of a crowd of 15,684 at XL Center. UConn had worked its way to its first lead of the game with a one-point advantage with 4:25 to go, and it was all even at 67-67 with 2:25 remaining. Rayah Marshall delivered a key bucket in the paint to lift USC into a lead it would not relinquish despite late free-throw looks from the Huskies with five seconds left. JuJu Watkins' two tosses from the stripe with 20 seconds on the clock gave USC a 72-69 lead, and just one of three late tosses from the Huskies would fall in a dramatic finish to this top-10 clash in Connecticut. USC nailed seven first-half 3-pointers and held UConn without a bucket from the floor for the final three minutes of the first half to build a 42-29 lead at the break. The Trojans were shooting 48.6 percent from the floor overall to that point, while the Huskies were at 35.5 percent, and USC was ahead on the boards 22-19 by halftime. JuJu Watkins was the only player in double digits through the first half, holding 15 points, and Kiki Iriafen had nine rebounds in the bank by the break. The second half was a different tale, as UConn heated up to 43.5 percent overall while landing four second-half 3-pointers. USC wrapped at 49.2 percent and had nine threes hit, while finishing just ahead on the boards 33-32 by the final buzzer. USC was led by JuJu Watkins' game-high 25 points along with a double-double from Kiki Iriafen with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Iriafen also had a career-high six assists. Back from injury, USC freshman Kennedy Smith hit a career-high three 3-pointers for the Trojans. UConn had two Huskies finish with 22 points apiece in Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong, with Strong pulling in 13 rebounds.
NOTABLE:
- JuJu Watkins (25 points) and Kiki Iriafen (16) have now both scored in double digits in all 12 USC games this season.
- With three 3-pointers made, Watkins has hit at least one three in the past seven games.
- With her 16 points and team-high 11 rebounds, Iriafen recorded her fifth double-double in USC's last six games and sixth as a Trojan.
- Iriafen also served up a career-high six assists.
- Kennedy Smith set a career-high with three 3-pointers made; Smith had missed the previous seven games following a surgical procedure.
- With two blocks, Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 10 games.
- This was USC's first win over a top-10 opponent this season, now 1-1 in such matchups after losing to then-No. 6/5 Notre Dame on Nov. 23.
- USC is now 1-3 all-time against UConn in a series that began in the 2002-03 season.
JUJU EARNS FIRST BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
JuJu Watkins is the first Trojan to be named a Big Ten Women's Basketball Player of the Week, earning the honors on Dec. 9 from USC's new conference. Watkins had twice before landed on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll this season, but Dec. 9 marked her first selection as Player of the Week. Watkins averaged 30.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks across USC's two wins that week, as the Trojans beat California Baptist 94-52 at Galen Center before opening Big Ten play with their first true road game in a 66-53 victory at Oregon. Against CBU, Watkins scored 40 points and broke USC's program record for 3-pointers made in a game with nine threes landed. Her 9-of-11 mark from beyond the arc set a new career best for Watkins, who also committed no turnovers in the win. Her 40-point effort was the second most scored by any D1 player this season, and made her just the third Big Ten player in the last 25 years to score 40 points and make nine 3-pointers in a single game. It was Watkins' 16th career game scoring 30 or more points. At Oregon, Watkins battled foul trouble and still emerged with a game-high 21 points in just under 28 minutes played. That marked the 35th time in her 43 career games played that Watkins has scored 20 or more points. Also that week, Watkins earned two sets of national honors, named the Associated Press National Player of the Week as well as one of five USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Players of the Week. Watkins duplicated that trifecta effort with Big Ten, AP and USWBA honors following USC's win at UConn on Dec. 21. On Dec. 31, Watkins earned herself a third round of AP and USWBA honors. Watkins now has five Big Ten Player of the Week awards to her name after also earning the honor on Jan. 6, Jan. 13 and Feb. 17.
OUI WIN IN PARIS
USC stood its ground from the free-throw line to pull off a 68-66 win over No. 20 Ole Miss, fighting back from down four points in the fourth with a stubborn stand to open up the 2024-25 campaign with a victory in Paris, France. The Trojans were playing in the first official collegiate basketball game of the season, taking the stage at Adidas Arena in Paris in an Aflac Oui-Play Game. USC heated up in the second quarter offensively and stayed stingy on defense to turn a three-point deficit into an 11-point halftime advantage. The Trojans shot 51.7 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes of action while holding the Rebels to 17.9 percent, and USC had the edge on the boards 26-25 by the break. JuJu Watkins had 16 points on the board, and three USC freshmen also were on the scoresheet in their Trojan debuts by halftime. Ole Miss got some 3-pointers to go in the second half to cut into the Trojan lead, but USC was composed from the free-throw line in the fourth, going 14-of-14 to counter the Rebels' late push. Ole Miss outscored USC 40-31 in the second half, but the Trojans pulled together to net the win. USC finished up the game shooting 40 percent overall from the floor, going 23-of-29 from the free-throw line and outrebounding Ole Miss 48-43. The Rebels wrapped at 29.7 percent from the floor, despite a 30-percent showing (7-of-23) from beyond the arc. The Trojans were paced by double-doubles from Kiki Iriafen and Watkins. Iriafen pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with her 22 points, and Watkins tallied a game-high 27 points with 10 rebounds. USC freshman Kennedy Smith also hit double digits in her Trojan debut, scoring 12 points. Ole Miss was led in scoring by Kristen Deans' 19 points and 14 from Madison Scott.
NOTABLE:
- Three USC freshman made their debuts: Kennedy Smith (starter), Kayleigh Heckel and Avery Howell.
- Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins both had double-doubles for USC, marking the first time since 2010 that two Trojans recorded double-doubles in a USC season opener.
- The game vs. No. 20 Ole Miss marked the eighth time USC has faced a ranked opponent in a season opener in program history.
- It is just the second time in program history that USC has faced a ranked opponent in back-to-back season openers — Last season, USC opened with a win over No. 7 Ohio State; USC beat Old Dominion in the 1986-87 season opener and lost to Texas in the 1987-88 season opener).
- This is the first time that USC has beaten a ranked opponent in consecutive season openers.
WATCH THIS
Four Women of Troy were in line for top honors this season, with Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall, Talia von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins all named to the 2024-25 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List presented by AXIA Time. It is the second Watch List selection for returning Trojans Marshall and Watkins, and the first for USC newcomers Iriafen and von Oelhoffen.
A 6-3 forward who was named the 2024 Katrina McClain National Power Forward of the Year, Iriafen joined the USC women's basketball program as a grad transfer out of Stanford. A 2024 All-America Honorable Mention recipient after a standout junior season with the Cardinal, Iriafen continues to raise the bar for herself with her first Naismith Watch List selection coming soon after her first pick as an AP Preseason All-American. Iriafen also was recently named to the 20-player 2025 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Watch List.
Marshall, a 6-4 senior center/forward, entered her final season at USC holding 996 career points and 35 double-doubles. Her second stint on the Naismith Watch List comes after earning All-Pac-12 Team honors as a sophomore and Honorable Mention as a junior. She also was named to the NCAA Portland Region 3 All-Tournament Team for her work in helping USC reach the Elite Eight for the first time in 30 years. Marshall also was recently named to the 20-player Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List.
An All-Pac-12 Team selection at Oregon State, von Oelhoffen helped the Beavers reach the NCAA Elite Eight last year and now is in her first season at USC with a spot on the Naismith Watch List as well as the Nancy Lieberman National Point Guard of the Year Award Watch List. A 5-11 guard, von Oelhoffen dished out 5.0 assists per game last season while averaging 10.7 points per game for the Beavers. She earned 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention and All-Pac-12 Team honors. Oelhoffen also was recently named to the 20-player Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watch List.
A 6-2 guard, Watkins was the National Freshman of the Year and the No. 2 scorer in the nation last season. She entered her sophomore campaign with the Women of Troy having already tallied at least 30 points in 14 games — a USC single-season record. Watkins was a unanimous selection for this year's AP Preseason All-America list. Last year, she was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and was named the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Shooting Guard of the Year. Watkins also was recently named to the 20-player Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List for 2024-25.
GOLDEN GIRLS
Representing the United States, USC freshmen Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith — both McDonald's All-Americans — teamed up to help Team USA win gold at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup in Colombia, keeping alive and well the U.S. streak of titles at the event. The pair combined for 31 points in the final game as the USA won its 11th straight gold with an 80-69 victory over Canada. A 5-9 guard out of Port Chester, N.Y., Heckel averaged 12.8 points along with 3.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game as Team USA went undefeated in AmeriCup action. A 6-1 guard hailing from Chino, Calif., Smith led Team USA with 18 points in the gold-medal game, including a solo six-point scoring surge that helped build a key late lead. She'd finish out the event having averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
BRING ON THE BIG TEN
Entering its first season in the Big Ten Conference, USC landed top honors from its new league, picked No. 1 in the Preseason Rankings to go along with JuJu Watkins' selection as Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Watkins also joins fellow Trojan Kiki Iriafen on the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The Women of Troy were selected to top the Big Ten in 2024-25, earning the No. 1 spot ahead of No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Maryland and No. 5 Indiana in both the coaches and media preseason polls. All five were NCAA Tournament teams last season, with USC having made the deepest run of the group with its Elite Eight appearance. UCLA and Indiana reached the 2024 Sweet Sixteen, while Ohio State got to the Second Round, and Maryland played in the First Round. The Women of Troy are set to host a competitive lineup of Big Ten teams at Galen Center and will challenge the remaining opponents on the road. USC also has a home-and-away series against crosstown rival UCLA on tap. The Trojans will face two programs — Illinois and Wisconsin — for the first time, while other matchups offer the first visits to Galen Center for several Big Ten foes as well as the Trojans' first trips to several road venues.
NOTABLE:
- As USC enters the Big Ten, it holds a 27-23 all-time record against current Big Ten teams (record does not include new members Oregon, UCLA and Washington)
- USC will be facing both Illinois and Wisconsin for the first time in program history.
- The 2024-25 meetings will feature the first-ever visits to Galen Center for Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State.
- USC will be playing road games at Indiana, Iowa, Purdue and Wisconsin for the first time.
WE GOT GOTTLIEB
Entering her fourth season at the helm of a program on the rise, USC women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season. Last season, Gottlieb guided her Women of Troy to a historic run to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight. Named a finalist for the Werner Ladder National Coach of the Year award, Gottlieb led USC to its second-ever Pac-12 Tournament title and to the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986. By the close of USC's first Elite Eight appearance in 30 years, Gottlieb's team had posted a 29-6 overall record — marking the most wins since Linda Sharp's 1985-86 team. Ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Trojans achieved their highest national ranking since standing at No. 3 in the final AP poll of 1986. USC had been picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12, but ended up second instead. With its highest-ever Pac-12 Tournament seed at No. 2, the Trojans went on to beat Arizona, UCLA and Stanford to claim the 2024 Pac-12 championship.
WNBA DRAFT DOUBLE
For the second straight year, USC had multiple Trojans selected in the WNBA Draft, with 2024 picks going to grad students McKenzie Forbes (Los Angeles Sparks) and Kaitlyn Davis (New York Liberty). Coming off key leadership roles in USC's run to the NCAA Elite Eight, Forbes and Davis were selected in the third round (April 15) as the 28th and 35th overall picks, respectively. Both were transfers to USC from the Ivy League in 2023, and both have further solidified their places in the Trojan history books to make it a count of 18 players selected for the WNBA out of USC. Two Women of Troy — Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie — were Inaugural Elite Selections to the WNBA in 1997. Additionally, 14 other Trojans have been drafted out of USC, including two picks in 2023 (Kadi Sissoko and Okako Adika) and now two more in 2024 with Forbes' and Davis' selections. This is the fourth time ever that USC has had two players selected in a WNBA Draft. In 2012, USC had Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath picked, and in 1997 Pam McGee and Tina Thompson were USC draftees.
LAST SEASON
In 2023-24, USC earned the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986 and made a historic run to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight. Ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Trojans achieved their highest national ranking since standing at No. 3 in the final AP poll of 1986. Picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 Conference, USC ended up second instead. With its highest-ever Pac-12 Tournament seed at No. 2, the Trojans went on to beat Arizona, UCLA and Stanford to claim the 2024 Pac-12 championship. The 2023-24 Trojans finished the season at 29-6 overall, marking the most wins by the program since 1985-86. USC's 2023-24 season was also highlighted by a standing-room-only crowd at Galen Center to see the Trojans beat rival UCLA, McKenzie Forbes named the Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a record-setting 51-point game by freshman JuJu Watkins in USC's first win at Stanford since 2002-03 and the honor of hosting — and winning — the NCAA First and Second Rounds to earn a trip to the Sweet 16.
SIGNED!
USC is getting another injection of high-level talent with the signing of Jazzy Davidson to join USC as a freshman for 2025-26. She is the No. 3 recruit in the nation and has been a member of Team USA's U18 National Teams. A native of Clackamas, Ore., Davidson was a semifinalist for the 2023-24 Naismith Trophy High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year as a junior at Clackamas High. A 6-foot-1 left-handed guard/forward, Davidson was also the 2022-23 Oregon Girls Basketball Player of the Year as a sophomore as Clackamas won the 2023 Class 6A state championship. This past summer, she was a member of the United States' gold-medalist U18 team at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup alongside two current USC freshmen — Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith. Davidson averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and a team-high 2.7 steals per game at the event, and became the first U18 player to go a perfect 100 percent from the floor with five or more attempts in a game since 2004 with her outing for Team USA against Mexico. In August, Davidson also was named to the 2024 USA 3x3 Women's U18 National Team, winning gold again with Team USA at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Since signing on with USC, Davidson has been named a McDonald's All-American and was selected as a Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Girl's Basketball Player of the Year semifinalist.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. The student-athlete experience at USC is truly unmatched. •
Galen Center | Los Angeles | Sunday, Feb. 23 | 1 p.m.
Series Record: FIRST MEETING
WATCH: FS1 (Talent: Guy Haberman & Elise Woodward) | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 4 USC (24-2, 14-1 Big Ten) now turns to celebrate Senior Day on Sunday (Feb. 23) with a 1 p.m. meeting against No. 25 Illinois (21-6, 11-5). USC will be honoring its five graduating Trojans at that game — Clarice Akunwafo, Dominique Darius, Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen.
FOLLOW ALONG
USC's game against Illinois will be broadcast on FS1 with Guy Haberman and Elise Woodward on the call. All of USC's games also are available live on ESPN radio and with audio streamed at USCTrojans.com/listen and the USC Trojans GameDay app with Eli Kleinmann on the radio calls.
IN THE POLLS
USC is ranked No. 4 in the latest AP and USA TODAY Coaches polls (as of Feb. 18). The Trojans were ranked No. 3 in both the AP and USA TODAY preseason polls and the national polls for the first three weeks of the 2024-25 season, marking their highest preseason ranking since 1984, when USC opened at No. 1 after winning back-to-back national championships. USC finished last season ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll.
QUICK HITS
• Now 24-2 overall, USC has its best start since the 1982-83 season when USC went 31-2.
• USC has recorded back-to-back seasons with 23 regular-season wins for the first time since 1983 and 1984.
• USC's 19-1 start to the season was its best since the 1981-82 season, and its 9-0 start in conference play was its best since the 1993-94 season.
• USC's 15-game win streak during this season was its longest since the 1982-83 season.
• The Trojans have recorded wins streaks of 10 or more straight games during back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons.
• The Trojans are 4-1 against top-10 opponents this season and 2-0 in road games vs. top-10 opponents.
• USC's win over UCLA was its second over an AP top-10 opponent in program history — last in 1983.
• Lindsay Gottlieb earned her 300th career victory as a head coach in USC's on Nov. 12 (123-39 vs. CSUN).
• Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins became just the second USC duo to score 30-plus points each in a game with their efforts vs. SLU on Nov. 29. [The first was Lisa Leslie and Tammy Story vs. Texas on Nov. 25, 1990.]
• Iriafen scored her 1,500th career point during USC's win at Washington on Feb. 16.
• Watkins has scored in double digits in all 26 USC games this season.
• Watkins has hit at least one 3-pointer in the last 21 games.
• Watkins scored her 1,000th career point on Nov. 15 vs. Santa Clara, becoming the fastest player in USC history to reach the 1,000-point mark in her career (38 games).
• The previous record was 48 games — set by Cheryl Miller in 1983-84.
• Watkins's 1,000 points in 38 games is the second fastest in Division 1 women's basketball history. She is the third player to hit the mark in 38 games, behind three other players who did it in 37.
• Watkins is the 30th Trojan to score 1,000 points at USC.
• Watkins became the 13th Trojan to score 1,500 career points with her 38-point outing in USC's Feb. 13 win over No. 1 UCLA.
• Now with 1,552 career points, Watkins ranks No. 12 all-time in scoring at USC.
• Watkins broke the USC single-game 3-point record with nine 3-pointers made vs. CBU on Dec. 3.
• Rayah Marshall scored her 1,000th career point on Nov. 9 vs. Cal Poly. She became the 29th USC player to have scored 1,000 or more points as a Trojan.
• On Jan. 5, Marshall collected her 1,000th career rebound, making her one of only eight Trojans to have scored 1,000 points along with 1,000 rebounds at USC.
• Marshall ranks No. 3 all-time at USC in career blocks (289) and No. 7 in career rebounds (1,086).
• Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 23 games she has played (54 total in that span).
• USC has recorded two 100-plus point games this season — the most since two in 1993-94.
• USC's 124 points scored vs, CSUN is the most points in a game in program history.
• The 85-point win vs, CSUN is USC's largest margin of victory in history.
• USC's 124 points vs, CSUN is the second most in Big Ten history, behind Purdue's 129 vs. Kent State (12/8/90).
• USC's win over No. 20 Ole Miss on Nov. 4 marked the first time in program history that the Trojans have played and beaten ranked opponents in back-to-back season openers.
• Also in that Nov. 4 win, USC had two players record double-doubles (Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins) in a season opener for the first time since 2010 (Briana Gilbreath and Christina Marinacci vs. Gonzaga).
• At 29-6 overall last season, USC recorded its most wins since going 31-5 in 1985-86.
• Last season, USC earned the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986.
• USC's 2024 NCAA Elite Eight run was its first since 1994.
• USC's 23 regular-season wins last season marked its most such victories since 1993-94.
LAST ACTION
USC manufactured its seventh win over a ranked opponent in a good battle against No. 22 Michigan State that ended in an 83-75 Trojan victory at Galen Center. JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen combined for 52 points in the win, which improved USC to 24-2 overall and 14-1 in Big Ten play, securing a double bye for USC in the coming Big Ten Tournament as an assured top-four seed. USC maneuvered into the lead with a 13-2 push during the first frame and held a 10-point lead for halftime with a 41-31 margin over Michigan State. The Trojans had shot 40 percent from the floor and was 14-of-18 from the free-throw line in a foul-interrupted first half. The Spartans were shooting 32.3 percent overall and had gone 10-of-12 from the stripe when halftime hit. Michigan State was ahead on the boards 21-19 to that point. USC upped its action on the boards in the second half to finish out with 45 to MSU's 37. Both teams heated up offensively, with USC finishing out a 43.3 percent to the Spartans' 40.6 percent. USC ended up making and attempting season-high free throws, going 26-of-35 from the line. MSU was 18-of-23 from the stripe on the night. USC received 28 points from JuJu Watkins and another double-double from Kiki Iriafen on 24 points and 10 rebounds. Kennedy Smith also got to double digits with 13 points scored, while Rayah Marshall hauled in 12 rebounds for the Trojans. Michigan State received a game-high 29 points from Grace VanSlooten along with 16 points and 10 rebounds from Julia Ayrault and 12 points from Theryn Hallock.
NOTABLE:
- With 28 points, SO JuJu Watkins moves into 12th all-time in scoring at USC — now with 1,552 career points.
- Watkins has scored in double figures in all 26 games this season and in all but one career game (9 vs. Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship game on March 20, 2024).
- With two 3-pointers made, Watkins has hit at least one three in USC's last 21 games.
- With 24 points, GS Kiki Iriafen has scored in double digits in 25 of the 26 games she has played this season.
- This was Iriafen's ninth game as a Trojan scoring at least 20 points.
- With 10 rebounds, Iriafen notched her ninth double-double of the season.
- This is the eighth game where Iriafen and Watkins have each recorded 20+ points (Last: Iriafen (23) and Watkins (20) vs. Minnesota on 1/30/25).
- With eight points scored tonight, SR Rayah Marshall moves into 22nd all-time in career scoring at USC — now with 1,179 career points.
- With two blocks, Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 23 games she has played (54 total in that span).
- With a game-high 12 rebounds, Marshall has recorded double-digit rebounds in nine games this season.
- With two steals, FR Kennedy Smith has recorded at least one steal in 16 of 19 games played.
- This is USC's fourth game this season where six players recorded at least one block (Previous: vs. Ohio State on 2/8/25).
- USC scored 83 points tonight, the second-most allowed in a game by the Spartans this season. MSU entered tonight holding opponents to 62.0 points per game.
- USC improved to 21-0 when scoring 70 or more points in a game this season.
- USC shot a season-high 35 free throws (previous most was 34 vs. Saint Louis on Nov. 29, 2024)
- USC's 26 made free throws also was a season high (previous most also vs. SLU with 24)
- USC held Michigan State to 8.3 percent shooting from 3-point range (1-for-12), a season-low for a USC opponent.
- MSU's one 3-pointer made was its season low for a game this season.
- USC is now 7-1 against ranked opponents this season.
DOWN GOES NUMBER ONE
USC weathered a third-quarter storm from visiting No. 1 UCLA and then swamped the Bruins in the fourth with a comeback push that netted a 71-60 victory for the Trojans at Galen Center. The win over its rival marked USC's first over an AP top-ranked team since 1983 and handed the Bruins their first loss of the season. USC sophomore JuJu Watkins shined brightly in this one, notching 38 points with 11 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks to help her Trojans improve to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in Big Ten play. UCLA is now 23-1, 11-1. Watkins delivered 25 of USC's 38 first-half points to help the Trojans lead the Bruins 38-35 at halftime. USC was shooting 38.2 percent overall but was a hot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc by the break. UCLA shots 44.4 percent overall in the first half and had hit one three. The Bruins were bigger on the boards, though, outrebounding USC 23-12 in those first 20 minutes of play. USC stayed largely even on the boards with UCLA in the second half, with the Bruins finishing with a 45-35 advantage, but UCLA went cold from the field during the fourth to see a seven-point lead melt away as USC outscored the Bruins 24-8 in the fourth to secure the upset win. USC wrapped the game shooting 33.3 percent overall while holding UCLA to a season-low 35.1 percent. Watkins worked her career scoring total out past the 1,500-point mark with her 38 points, notching her 15th career double-double in adding 11 rebounds to go with eight booming blocks and five assists. Kiki Iriafen also got to double digits with 13 points on the night while adding three assists. UCLA was led by Lauren Betts' double-double on 18 points and 13 rebounds, joined in double figures by Kiki Rice's 15 points and 10 from Janiah Barker.
NOTABLE:
- This is USC's first program win over an AP No. 1-ranked team since 1983 (last vs. Louisiana Tech [W, 69-67] in the national title game). USC is now 2-10 all-time against AP top-ranked opponents.
- With this win, USC snaps the Bruin's 23-0 win streak. The last time UCLA came to Galen, the Trojans snapped their 14-0 undefeated streak.
- This was USC's first win after trailing entering the fourth quarter (now 1-2 in those situations).
- The Trojans kept the Bruins to a season-low 60 points. They were averaging 80.6 points scored in a game, and allowing 54.7 points by opponents.
- USC held UCLA to a season-low 35.5% shooting percentage.
- This was the third game of the season between top-10 opponents at Galen Center (first was Nov. 23, 2024 vs. then-No. 6 Notre Dame, second was Feb. 8, 2025 vs. then No. 8 Ohio State).
- USC is now 4-1 vs. top-10 opponents this season.
- With 32 points at 6:23 in the fourth quarter, SO JuJu Watkins hit 1,500 career points.
- With 38 points, Watkins has scored in double figures in all 24 games this season.
- This is Watkins' 19th career 30-point game and fifth 30-point game this season.
- Watkins' 25 points in the first half was the most she scored in a first this season.
- Watkins is now at No. 13 all-time in scoring at USC with 1,507 career points.
- Also with 11 rebounds, Watkins recorded her sixth double-double this season and 15th as a Trojan.
- With 13 points, GS Kiki Iriafen has scored in double digits in 23 of the 24 games she has played this season.
- With eight blocks, Watkins has recorded a new career high. It ties the third-most in a game by a Trojan (last was SR Rayah Marshall against Washington on 11/22/23).
- With six 3-pointers made, Watkins has hit at least one three in USC's last 19 games. It ties the third-most threes made by a Trojan all time.
- With one 3-pointer, GS Talia von Oelhoffen has hit at least one three in the last seven games.
- With two blocks, Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 21 games she has played (51 total in that span).
- With three steals, SR Clarice Akunwafo tied her career high.
- With two assists, Akunwafo tied her season high.
- With one steal tonight, FR Kennedy Smith has recorded at least one steal in 14 of 17 games played.
- USC's 22-2 start to the season is its best since the 1982-83 season.
- USC is now 20-0 when scoring 70 or more points and 19-0 when holding an opponent to under 70 points.
- USC is now 18-0 when holding an opponent to a field goal percentage lower than 40%.
- USC's 13 total blocks was a season high. It ties the third-most blocked shots by the Trojans in a game (last vs. California on 2/4/22), and the most since recording 14 blocks against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on 3/23/24.
BEATING THE BUCKEYES
USC shrugged off a slow start, passed up visiting No. 8 Ohio State and then hit the gas to collect an 84-59 win over the Buckeyes. Three Trojans recorded double-doubles in the win — the first such effort since 2009 —to help propel USC to a key Big Ten win, improving to 21-2 overall and 11-1 in conference play. Ohio State is now 20-3, 9-3. USC overcame an early five-point deficit with a composed response and a concerted effort on the boards. USC gripped a 34-26 halftime advantage with help from 30 rebounds and a 32.1 percent shooting effort to outpace Ohio State's 30.6 percent from the floor and 15 rebounds by the break. The Trojans continued to dominate on the rebounding front, hauling in 62 boards to mark the most in a game since 1999. USC finished out the game shooting 39.7 percent from the field, while the Buckeyes wrapped at 29.4 percent. USC's onslaught was keyed by Kiki Iriafen's game-high 24 points along with 13 rebounds, joined in the double-double camp by Kennedy Smith with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and JuJu Watkins on 17 points and 10 rebounds. Rayah Marshall also hit double digits in the win with 10 points while adding four blocks for the Trojan cause. Ohio State also finished with four in double digits: Taylor Thierry (14 points), Cotie McMahon (13), Chance Gray (12) and Jalopy Cambridge (11).
NOTABLE:
- USC's 62 rebounds is a season-high, the highest number of rebounds recorded this century and the highest since Dec. 11, 1999 against Sacramento State. USC's 32 rebound advantage (62-30) is a season game high. It is also USC's biggest rebound advantage in a game since outrebounding Hope International by 33 on Nov. 13, 2015 (52-19).
- USC is now 3-1 this season vs. top-10 opponents.
- This was the second game of the season between top-10 opponents at Galen Center (last was Nov. 23, 2024 vs. then-No. 6 Notre Dame)
- With 13 points and 13 rebounds, FR Kennedy Smith recorded the first double-double of her career.
- Smith set a career-high in rebounds (13), and matched her career highs in assists (5), blocks (2) and 3-pointers made (3).
- With 24 points, GS Kiki Iriafen has scored in double digits in 22 of the 23 games she has played this season.
- Also with a season-high 13 rebounds, Iriafen recorded her eighth double-double of the season and eighth game of the season with 20+ points.
- With 17 points, SO JuJu Watkins has scored in double figures in all 22 games this season.
- Watkins is now tied at No. 14 all-time in scoring at USC with 1,469 career points.
- Also with 10 rebounds, Watkins recorded her fifth double-double this season and 14th as a Trojan.
- This is the first time since Dec. 3, 2009 (vs. Long Beach State) that three Trojans recorded double-doubles in the same game.
- With one 3-pointer made, Watkins has hit at least one three in USC's last 18 games.
- With four blocks tonight, SR Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 20 games she has played (49 total in that span).
- USC is now 19-0 when scoring 70 or more points and 18-0 when holding an opponent to under 70 points.
- With this win, USC moves to 18-0 when outrebounding an opponent.
- USC scored an Ohio State opponent season-high of 84 points. The last time Ohio State allowed more points in a game was the 2024 regular season finale at Iowa on March 3, when it surrendered 93 points on Caitlin Clark's senior day (93-83 loss). The Buckeyes entered this game allowing only 59.1 points per game.
AVERY SCORES B1G HONORS
Avery Howell earned her first conference award with her selection as the Big Ten Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week on Jan. 27. She set new career highs in several categories during USC's win at Purdue, helping the Trojans to their 14th consecutive win and an 18-1 overall record. Howell's career-high 18 points scored against the Boilermakers included new high marks for her with four 3-pointers made and a perfect 6-for-6 effort from the free-throw line. Howell also notched a career-high three steals in USC's 79-37 win at Purdue. She led all scorers in the game with her point total and threes landed — this four 3-pointers helped account for 11 total by the Trojans to mark the most three USC has made in a Big Ten game this season and tying the second most in any game this season.
ANOTHER TOP-10 ROAD TAKEDOWN
USC forced nine ties before making a late-game surge to victory to beat previously undefeated No. 8 Maryland 79-72 in College Park, Md. JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen had 21 points apiece for the Trojan cause, while freshmen Kayleigh Heckel, Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith and senior Rayah Marshall each came up with clutch plays for USC down the stretch to help claim an 11th straight win. Maryland crafted a nine-point lead during the first quarter before USC got its feet under it and took its first lead midway through the second quarter. USC would grip a 35-34 lead by halftime on 39.4-percent shooting from the floor — ahead of the Terrapins' 31.6 percent overall. Both teams had hit a pair of 3-pointers apiece by the break, while the Trojans were just ahead on the boards 23-22. Only one bucket would fall for Maryland in the last 2:40 of action while the Trojans made their winning push in College Park. USC wrapped the game at 40.6 percent shooting overall and held Maryland to 36.5 percent from the floor. USC went bigger on the boards as well, outrebounding the Terps 47-40 thanks in part to a season-high 15 rebounds from Marshall. Marshall also delivered four blocks for the Trojan cause, while Watkins hauled in nine rebounds to go with her 21 points. Iriafen also hit 21, and freshmen Howell (11 points) Heckel (10) and Smith (10) also finished in double digits for USC. Maryland was paced by a game-high 26 points from Shyanne Sellers, 16 points from Kaylene Smikle and 15 from Christina Dalce. Saylor Poffenbarger pulled in 17 rebounds for the Terps, and Dalce had 12.
NOTABLE:
- With a season-high 15 rebounds, Marshall recorded her sixth double-digit rebound game this season.
- Watkins (21 points) and Iriafen (21) have now both scored in double digits in all 16 USC games this season.
- This is Iriafen's fifth game as a Trojan scoring 20+ points.
- With 10 points, Heckel scored in double digits for the fourth time this season; she also tied her career high with four assists.
- With two steals, SO Malia Samuels has recorded at least one steal in USC's last eight games.
- Smith tied her career high in rebounds with eight.
- This is the third game this season with five or more Trojans in double-digit scoring.
- USC moved to 13-0 when holding an opponent under 40% shooting from the floor.
- USC played this game without GS Talia von Oelhoffen due to injury.
- SO Malia Samuels was in the starting lineup for the first time this season
WE WIN AT UCONN
USC answered a gut check in Hartford, Conn., fighting off a late push by No. 4 host UConn to ring up a tense 72-70 victory over the Huskies — USC's first over UConn in program history. The Trojans had led by as much as 18 points early in the second half, only to see the Huskies bite back in front of a crowd of 15,684 at XL Center. UConn had worked its way to its first lead of the game with a one-point advantage with 4:25 to go, and it was all even at 67-67 with 2:25 remaining. Rayah Marshall delivered a key bucket in the paint to lift USC into a lead it would not relinquish despite late free-throw looks from the Huskies with five seconds left. JuJu Watkins' two tosses from the stripe with 20 seconds on the clock gave USC a 72-69 lead, and just one of three late tosses from the Huskies would fall in a dramatic finish to this top-10 clash in Connecticut. USC nailed seven first-half 3-pointers and held UConn without a bucket from the floor for the final three minutes of the first half to build a 42-29 lead at the break. The Trojans were shooting 48.6 percent from the floor overall to that point, while the Huskies were at 35.5 percent, and USC was ahead on the boards 22-19 by halftime. JuJu Watkins was the only player in double digits through the first half, holding 15 points, and Kiki Iriafen had nine rebounds in the bank by the break. The second half was a different tale, as UConn heated up to 43.5 percent overall while landing four second-half 3-pointers. USC wrapped at 49.2 percent and had nine threes hit, while finishing just ahead on the boards 33-32 by the final buzzer. USC was led by JuJu Watkins' game-high 25 points along with a double-double from Kiki Iriafen with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Iriafen also had a career-high six assists. Back from injury, USC freshman Kennedy Smith hit a career-high three 3-pointers for the Trojans. UConn had two Huskies finish with 22 points apiece in Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong, with Strong pulling in 13 rebounds.
NOTABLE:
- JuJu Watkins (25 points) and Kiki Iriafen (16) have now both scored in double digits in all 12 USC games this season.
- With three 3-pointers made, Watkins has hit at least one three in the past seven games.
- With her 16 points and team-high 11 rebounds, Iriafen recorded her fifth double-double in USC's last six games and sixth as a Trojan.
- Iriafen also served up a career-high six assists.
- Kennedy Smith set a career-high with three 3-pointers made; Smith had missed the previous seven games following a surgical procedure.
- With two blocks, Rayah Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 10 games.
- This was USC's first win over a top-10 opponent this season, now 1-1 in such matchups after losing to then-No. 6/5 Notre Dame on Nov. 23.
- USC is now 1-3 all-time against UConn in a series that began in the 2002-03 season.
JUJU EARNS FIRST BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
JuJu Watkins is the first Trojan to be named a Big Ten Women's Basketball Player of the Week, earning the honors on Dec. 9 from USC's new conference. Watkins had twice before landed on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll this season, but Dec. 9 marked her first selection as Player of the Week. Watkins averaged 30.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks across USC's two wins that week, as the Trojans beat California Baptist 94-52 at Galen Center before opening Big Ten play with their first true road game in a 66-53 victory at Oregon. Against CBU, Watkins scored 40 points and broke USC's program record for 3-pointers made in a game with nine threes landed. Her 9-of-11 mark from beyond the arc set a new career best for Watkins, who also committed no turnovers in the win. Her 40-point effort was the second most scored by any D1 player this season, and made her just the third Big Ten player in the last 25 years to score 40 points and make nine 3-pointers in a single game. It was Watkins' 16th career game scoring 30 or more points. At Oregon, Watkins battled foul trouble and still emerged with a game-high 21 points in just under 28 minutes played. That marked the 35th time in her 43 career games played that Watkins has scored 20 or more points. Also that week, Watkins earned two sets of national honors, named the Associated Press National Player of the Week as well as one of five USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Players of the Week. Watkins duplicated that trifecta effort with Big Ten, AP and USWBA honors following USC's win at UConn on Dec. 21. On Dec. 31, Watkins earned herself a third round of AP and USWBA honors. Watkins now has five Big Ten Player of the Week awards to her name after also earning the honor on Jan. 6, Jan. 13 and Feb. 17.
OUI WIN IN PARIS
USC stood its ground from the free-throw line to pull off a 68-66 win over No. 20 Ole Miss, fighting back from down four points in the fourth with a stubborn stand to open up the 2024-25 campaign with a victory in Paris, France. The Trojans were playing in the first official collegiate basketball game of the season, taking the stage at Adidas Arena in Paris in an Aflac Oui-Play Game. USC heated up in the second quarter offensively and stayed stingy on defense to turn a three-point deficit into an 11-point halftime advantage. The Trojans shot 51.7 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes of action while holding the Rebels to 17.9 percent, and USC had the edge on the boards 26-25 by the break. JuJu Watkins had 16 points on the board, and three USC freshmen also were on the scoresheet in their Trojan debuts by halftime. Ole Miss got some 3-pointers to go in the second half to cut into the Trojan lead, but USC was composed from the free-throw line in the fourth, going 14-of-14 to counter the Rebels' late push. Ole Miss outscored USC 40-31 in the second half, but the Trojans pulled together to net the win. USC finished up the game shooting 40 percent overall from the floor, going 23-of-29 from the free-throw line and outrebounding Ole Miss 48-43. The Rebels wrapped at 29.7 percent from the floor, despite a 30-percent showing (7-of-23) from beyond the arc. The Trojans were paced by double-doubles from Kiki Iriafen and Watkins. Iriafen pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with her 22 points, and Watkins tallied a game-high 27 points with 10 rebounds. USC freshman Kennedy Smith also hit double digits in her Trojan debut, scoring 12 points. Ole Miss was led in scoring by Kristen Deans' 19 points and 14 from Madison Scott.
NOTABLE:
- Three USC freshman made their debuts: Kennedy Smith (starter), Kayleigh Heckel and Avery Howell.
- Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins both had double-doubles for USC, marking the first time since 2010 that two Trojans recorded double-doubles in a USC season opener.
- The game vs. No. 20 Ole Miss marked the eighth time USC has faced a ranked opponent in a season opener in program history.
- It is just the second time in program history that USC has faced a ranked opponent in back-to-back season openers — Last season, USC opened with a win over No. 7 Ohio State; USC beat Old Dominion in the 1986-87 season opener and lost to Texas in the 1987-88 season opener).
- This is the first time that USC has beaten a ranked opponent in consecutive season openers.
WATCH THIS
Four Women of Troy were in line for top honors this season, with Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall, Talia von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins all named to the 2024-25 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List presented by AXIA Time. It is the second Watch List selection for returning Trojans Marshall and Watkins, and the first for USC newcomers Iriafen and von Oelhoffen.
A 6-3 forward who was named the 2024 Katrina McClain National Power Forward of the Year, Iriafen joined the USC women's basketball program as a grad transfer out of Stanford. A 2024 All-America Honorable Mention recipient after a standout junior season with the Cardinal, Iriafen continues to raise the bar for herself with her first Naismith Watch List selection coming soon after her first pick as an AP Preseason All-American. Iriafen also was recently named to the 20-player 2025 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Watch List.
Marshall, a 6-4 senior center/forward, entered her final season at USC holding 996 career points and 35 double-doubles. Her second stint on the Naismith Watch List comes after earning All-Pac-12 Team honors as a sophomore and Honorable Mention as a junior. She also was named to the NCAA Portland Region 3 All-Tournament Team for her work in helping USC reach the Elite Eight for the first time in 30 years. Marshall also was recently named to the 20-player Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List.
An All-Pac-12 Team selection at Oregon State, von Oelhoffen helped the Beavers reach the NCAA Elite Eight last year and now is in her first season at USC with a spot on the Naismith Watch List as well as the Nancy Lieberman National Point Guard of the Year Award Watch List. A 5-11 guard, von Oelhoffen dished out 5.0 assists per game last season while averaging 10.7 points per game for the Beavers. She earned 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention and All-Pac-12 Team honors. Oelhoffen also was recently named to the 20-player Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watch List.
A 6-2 guard, Watkins was the National Freshman of the Year and the No. 2 scorer in the nation last season. She entered her sophomore campaign with the Women of Troy having already tallied at least 30 points in 14 games — a USC single-season record. Watkins was a unanimous selection for this year's AP Preseason All-America list. Last year, she was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and was named the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Shooting Guard of the Year. Watkins also was recently named to the 20-player Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List for 2024-25.
GOLDEN GIRLS
Representing the United States, USC freshmen Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith — both McDonald's All-Americans — teamed up to help Team USA win gold at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup in Colombia, keeping alive and well the U.S. streak of titles at the event. The pair combined for 31 points in the final game as the USA won its 11th straight gold with an 80-69 victory over Canada. A 5-9 guard out of Port Chester, N.Y., Heckel averaged 12.8 points along with 3.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game as Team USA went undefeated in AmeriCup action. A 6-1 guard hailing from Chino, Calif., Smith led Team USA with 18 points in the gold-medal game, including a solo six-point scoring surge that helped build a key late lead. She'd finish out the event having averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
BRING ON THE BIG TEN
Entering its first season in the Big Ten Conference, USC landed top honors from its new league, picked No. 1 in the Preseason Rankings to go along with JuJu Watkins' selection as Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Watkins also joins fellow Trojan Kiki Iriafen on the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The Women of Troy were selected to top the Big Ten in 2024-25, earning the No. 1 spot ahead of No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Maryland and No. 5 Indiana in both the coaches and media preseason polls. All five were NCAA Tournament teams last season, with USC having made the deepest run of the group with its Elite Eight appearance. UCLA and Indiana reached the 2024 Sweet Sixteen, while Ohio State got to the Second Round, and Maryland played in the First Round. The Women of Troy are set to host a competitive lineup of Big Ten teams at Galen Center and will challenge the remaining opponents on the road. USC also has a home-and-away series against crosstown rival UCLA on tap. The Trojans will face two programs — Illinois and Wisconsin — for the first time, while other matchups offer the first visits to Galen Center for several Big Ten foes as well as the Trojans' first trips to several road venues.
NOTABLE:
- As USC enters the Big Ten, it holds a 27-23 all-time record against current Big Ten teams (record does not include new members Oregon, UCLA and Washington)
- USC will be facing both Illinois and Wisconsin for the first time in program history.
- The 2024-25 meetings will feature the first-ever visits to Galen Center for Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State.
- USC will be playing road games at Indiana, Iowa, Purdue and Wisconsin for the first time.
WE GOT GOTTLIEB
Entering her fourth season at the helm of a program on the rise, USC women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season. Last season, Gottlieb guided her Women of Troy to a historic run to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight. Named a finalist for the Werner Ladder National Coach of the Year award, Gottlieb led USC to its second-ever Pac-12 Tournament title and to the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986. By the close of USC's first Elite Eight appearance in 30 years, Gottlieb's team had posted a 29-6 overall record — marking the most wins since Linda Sharp's 1985-86 team. Ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Trojans achieved their highest national ranking since standing at No. 3 in the final AP poll of 1986. USC had been picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12, but ended up second instead. With its highest-ever Pac-12 Tournament seed at No. 2, the Trojans went on to beat Arizona, UCLA and Stanford to claim the 2024 Pac-12 championship.
WNBA DRAFT DOUBLE
For the second straight year, USC had multiple Trojans selected in the WNBA Draft, with 2024 picks going to grad students McKenzie Forbes (Los Angeles Sparks) and Kaitlyn Davis (New York Liberty). Coming off key leadership roles in USC's run to the NCAA Elite Eight, Forbes and Davis were selected in the third round (April 15) as the 28th and 35th overall picks, respectively. Both were transfers to USC from the Ivy League in 2023, and both have further solidified their places in the Trojan history books to make it a count of 18 players selected for the WNBA out of USC. Two Women of Troy — Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie — were Inaugural Elite Selections to the WNBA in 1997. Additionally, 14 other Trojans have been drafted out of USC, including two picks in 2023 (Kadi Sissoko and Okako Adika) and now two more in 2024 with Forbes' and Davis' selections. This is the fourth time ever that USC has had two players selected in a WNBA Draft. In 2012, USC had Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath picked, and in 1997 Pam McGee and Tina Thompson were USC draftees.
LAST SEASON
In 2023-24, USC earned the program's first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986 and made a historic run to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight. Ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Trojans achieved their highest national ranking since standing at No. 3 in the final AP poll of 1986. Picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 Conference, USC ended up second instead. With its highest-ever Pac-12 Tournament seed at No. 2, the Trojans went on to beat Arizona, UCLA and Stanford to claim the 2024 Pac-12 championship. The 2023-24 Trojans finished the season at 29-6 overall, marking the most wins by the program since 1985-86. USC's 2023-24 season was also highlighted by a standing-room-only crowd at Galen Center to see the Trojans beat rival UCLA, McKenzie Forbes named the Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a record-setting 51-point game by freshman JuJu Watkins in USC's first win at Stanford since 2002-03 and the honor of hosting — and winning — the NCAA First and Second Rounds to earn a trip to the Sweet 16.
SIGNED!
USC is getting another injection of high-level talent with the signing of Jazzy Davidson to join USC as a freshman for 2025-26. She is the No. 3 recruit in the nation and has been a member of Team USA's U18 National Teams. A native of Clackamas, Ore., Davidson was a semifinalist for the 2023-24 Naismith Trophy High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year as a junior at Clackamas High. A 6-foot-1 left-handed guard/forward, Davidson was also the 2022-23 Oregon Girls Basketball Player of the Year as a sophomore as Clackamas won the 2023 Class 6A state championship. This past summer, she was a member of the United States' gold-medalist U18 team at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup alongside two current USC freshmen — Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith. Davidson averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and a team-high 2.7 steals per game at the event, and became the first U18 player to go a perfect 100 percent from the floor with five or more attempts in a game since 2004 with her outing for Team USA against Mexico. In August, Davidson also was named to the 2024 USA 3x3 Women's U18 National Team, winning gold again with Team USA at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Since signing on with USC, Davidson has been named a McDonald's All-American and was selected as a Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Girl's Basketball Player of the Year semifinalist.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. The student-athlete experience at USC is truly unmatched. •
USC WBB's Lindsay Gottlieb, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen | Trojan Press Conference
Monday, March 31
USC WBB heads to the Elite 8, defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16 | Rapid Reaction
Saturday, March 29
Kennedy Smith on USC WBB heading to the Elite Eight, Trojan freshmen getting the job done
Saturday, March 29
USC WBB Defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16, Advances to Elite Eight | Trojan Press Conference
Saturday, March 29
