Juju Watkins scores 38 as No. 6 USC Women’s Basketball Hands No. 1 UCLA The first loss in 71-58 decision at the Galen Center

Los Angeles no. 6 USC Women’s Basketball team weathered a storm in the third quarter from visiting No. 1 UCLA and then flooded Bruins in the fourth with a comeback push that netted a 71-60 victory for the Trojans at the Galen Center. The victory over his rival marked the USC’s first over an AP-Top-ranked team since 1983 and delivered Bruins their first loss of the season. USC Sophomore Juju Watkins Dressed bright in this one, and chop 38 points with 11 rebounds and a career high eight blocks to help her Trojans improve to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in the Big Ten game. UCLA is now 23-1, 11-1.

Watkins delivered 25 of the USCS 38 first half points to help the Trojans lead Bruins 38-35 at the break. The USC shoots 38.2 percent overall, but was a hot 7-of-11 in addition to the arch at the break. UCLA shot 44.4 percent totaled in the first half and had hit a three. However, Bruins was larger on the boards that exceeded the USC 23-12 in the first 20 minutes of play. USC remained largely even on the boards with UCLA in the second half, with Bruins ending with a 45-35 benefit, but UCLA got cold off the field during the fourth to see a seven-point lead melting away when USC Outscorated Bruins 24 -8 in the fourth to secure the upset victory. The USC wrapped the game shoots 33.3 percent overall, while UCLA held a season-low 35.1 percent.

Watkins worked his career to score a total of past the 1,500-point brand with his 38 points and noted his 15th career double-dual by adding 11 rebounds to go with eight flowering blocks and five assists. Kiki Iriafen Also may get double digits with 13 points at night while adding three assists. UCLA was led by Lauren Betts’ double-double at 18 points and 13 rebounds, participated in double by Kiki Rice’s 15 points and 10 from Janiah Barker.

USC bent some muscles over the arch to open the first frame with Talia von Oelhoffen Opening the action with a 3-pointer. Juju Watkins Drained two of her own to help USC out to an 11-8 lead at. 5:10. Her third long came shortly after and was followed by a gutsy finish from Kayleigh Heckel to net a 20-10 lead to USC at. 3:55. UCLA carved in that lead with its first 3-pointer of the game and then a score down low, only to see Kennedy Smith Go to the strip for two throws and then a buzzing bucket that falls for von Oelhoffen to take the Trojans to a 24-15 lead at the end of the first. It was all Watkins for the USC in the other when the other spiced two to 3-Pointers and had a fine finish on a jumper when the USC maneuvered in the future 32-18 with 6:30 on the clock. Her 21st point at night, USC had up 34-21 a minute later. However, Bruins found a groove that made a 14-1 scoring pressure even things. Watkins had the final word on the offensive end with his fifth 3-point to pull the Trojans ahead 38-35 at the last minute, and then the USC defense went to work and forced a shooting overwhelm out of Bruins to keep this benefit on The board for the break.

Bruins fired out of the gates in the second half and scored 10 straight points to work into the lead and get ahead 45-38 three minutes into half. Kiki Iriafen Broke down with the rally with a successful trip to the line, and then Watkins did well on a three-point game to get the USC back within two o’clock. 05.20. UCLA created some space again with five straight points, and the USC was only able to land a free kick down the stretch as the third closed with UCLA up 52-47. Watkins was the fuel for the Trojans to open there fourth and operated an early assist to Kennedy Smith And then pump in back-to-back buckets after filling three bruin shots. Watkins ’34. Points at night, USC had up 53-52 at. 5:58. After one back and forth saw the hands of the main trade, Avery Howell turned down a clutch 3-pointer to turn on a fuse to the USC. UCLA went cold from the floor for four and a half minutes, and the net only free kick, while the USC built a double -digit lead. USC made a 12-1 rally that was topped by a three-point game from Iriafen and the USC grabbed a 67-57 advantage with 2:25 to go. The Trojans remained the course down on the stretch, where Iriafen struck again, and von Oelhoffen drained two free kicks before Bruins broke their silence with a late bucket wrapped the game as a 71-60 USC victory.

NEXT:
USC is now heading to Seattle to visit Washington for a 7 p.m. 16.00 Competition Sunday (February 16).



REMARKABLE:
-It is USC’s first program gain over an AP no. 1-ranked team since 1983 (Last vs. Louisiana Tech (W, 69-67) in the national title game). The USC is now 2-10 all the time against AP top-ranked opponents.
-With this win, the USC Bruin clicks 23-0 victory. The last time UCLA came to the Galen, the Trojans cracked their 14-0 undefeated row.
– The Trojans kept Bruins for a season-low 60 points. They were an average of 80.6 points scored in a game and allow 54.7 points by opponents.
– USC held UCLA for a season-low 35.5% shooting percentage.
-It was the third game of the season between Top-10 opponents in the Galen Center (first was November 23, 2024 against the then No. 6 Notre Dame, second was February 8, 2025 against then No. 8 Ohio State).
-Usc is now 4-1 against top-10 opponents this season.
– With 32 points at. 6:23 in the fourth quarter, then Juju Watkins Hit 1,500 Career Points.
– With 38 points, Watkins has scored in double in all 23 games this season.
-This is watkins ’19. Career 30-point games and fifth 30-point games this season.
– Watkins ’25 points in the first half it was mostly she scored in a first this season.
– Watkins is now at No. 13 all the time in scoring at USC with 1,507 career points.
– Also with 11 rebounds, Watkins recorded his sixth double-double this season and 15. Like a Trojan.
– With 13 points tonight, GS Kiki Iriafen Have scored in double digits in 23 of the 24 games she has played this season.
– With eight blocks tonight, Watkins has recorded a new career high. It ties the third most in a game of 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 the USC’s last 19 matches. It ties the third most triangles made by a Trojan all the time.
– With a 3-Pointer tonight, GS Talia von Oelhoffen have hit at least one three in the last seven matches.
– With two blocks tonight, Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 21 games she has played (51 in total over that time).
– with three stealing, sr Clarice Akunwafo tied his career out loud.
– With two assists, Akunwafo tied her season high.
– With a stealing tonight, fr Kennedy Smith Has recorded at least one steal in 14 of 17 games played.
-Uscs 22-2 Start of the season is the best since the 1982-83 season.
-Usc is now 20-0 when you score 70 or more points and 19-0 when you hold an opponent for less than 70 points.
– The USC is now 18-0 when he holds an opponent to a field target percentage lower than 40%.
– USC’s 13 total blocks were a season high. It ties the third most blocked shots of the Trojans in a game (Last vs. California on 2/4/22), and the most since the recording of 14 blocks against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on 23/23/24.