The freshman star scores 30 points and the top-seeded Trojans advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 30 years with a 74-70 win over the Bears
USC’s Rayah Marshall, left, and JuJu Watkins slap hands during the first half of a Sweet 16 game against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Portland, Ore. PORTLAND, Ore. — She motored down the floor, an unstoppable force meeting two immovable Baylor defenders, all odds practical and impractical standing firmly in JuJu Watkins’ way.
With a trip to the Elite Eight teetering in a tie game, Watkins snared a rebound off a miss from red-hot Baylor guard Jada Walker and took off. Two Bears defenders shadowed her, trying to slow her in transition, the Bears knocking Watkins off-rhythm all night with physicality and scrappy body-bumps.She went straight at both, barreling everyone over as she fell backwards, somehow lofting up a right-handed layup as she fell to the hardwood with a whistle. Banked home.
After Baylor’s Sarah Andrews improbably banked home a late three to cut USC’s lead to one, Watkins hit two free throws and Rayah Marshall added one more – and the celebration began, senior guard Kayla Padilla leaning her head back to the heavens on the bench with fists in the air. These fourth-seeded Bears were feisty – saying a lot, Gottlieb said at a USC practice this week, because everyteam left in the Sweet 16 was feisty – and came out swarming. They took a 7-2 lead on USC to start, the first team in weeks to out-hustle the Trojans from the tip, sweat glistening off Watkins’ face just five minutes in.
Her physicality keyed an 8-0 second-quarter run to open some breathing room, but Baylor responded right back, cutting USC’s lead to three early in the third quarter as versatile big Darianna Littlepage-Buggs dropped in eight points in the span of three minutes. She faced up for jumpers, dropping in layups, shoving off Marshall on one bucket for a step-back jumper and bounding back down the floor with a mean-mug.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
USC basketball legend Cheryl Miller offers JuJu Watkins advice ahead of NCAA tournament debutJuJu Watkins, the 18-year-old USC women’s basketball star, has been one of the best players in the nation on the offensive and defensive ends of the court this season.
Les mer »
JuJu Watkins studying hard as USC's freshman sensation prepares for NCAA Tournament debutJuJu Watkins is watching a special kind of film ahead of her NCAA Tournament debut for No. 1 seed Southern California. She and coach Lindsay Gottlieb have reviewed video of every single type of coverage used by opposing defenses against Watkins this season.
Les mer »
JuJu Watkins breaks another record, powering USC to victory in NCAA tournament openerJuju Watkins and McKenzie Forbes each score 23 points as USC defeats Texas A&M Corpus Christi 87-55 in the first round of the NCAA women's tournament.
Les mer »
JuJu Watkins scores 23 points in NCAA Tournament debut as USC wins 87-55JuJu Watkins scored 23 points in her NCAA Tournament debut, leading No. 1 seed USC to a 87-55 blowout victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Les mer »
JuJu Watkins sets the tone early in USC's tournament win over KansasUSC gets an early shot of confidence from JuJu Watkins on its way to a win over Kansas and a spot in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA Tournament.
Les mer »
JuJu Watkins leads USC to exciting double-OT win over UCLA in Pac-12 tournamentJuJu Watkins scores 33 points as USC holds off UCLA's comeback and prevails 80-70 in double overtime to advance to the women's Pac-12 tournament final.
Les mer »