USC women's basketball team defeated Nebraska 75-55, led by JuJu Watkins' 26-point performance. The Trojans overcame an early deficit to take control in the second half.
USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb watched with exasperation as Nebraska took a five-point lead in the second quarter. The Trojans' New Year's Day game at Galen Center wasn't going to plan. Gottlieb had seen the Cornhuskers give No. 1 UCLA trouble early Sunday before the Bruins won by 37 points. Now, her team was trying to withstand similar pressure. Fortunately for the Trojans' coach, No. 4 USC responded.
Using a 14-4 run to close the first half and take the lead, USC took control in the second half, using a 26-point performance from sophomore star JuJu Watkins to defeat Nebraska 75-55 on Wednesday. Watkins scored nine points in the third quarter, extending USC’s lead to 14 and a 59-45 advantage. Graduate student forward Kiki Iriafen added 14 points herself, extending her double-digits scoring streak to all 14 games this season. Some of the Trojans’ best defensive runs came when senior center Clarice Akunwafo and sophomore guard Malia Samuels were on the floor, playing for 12 and 13 minutes, respectively. The bench duo contributed to holding the Cornhuskers (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten) to four points over the final 4:26 of the first quarter and played vital minutes as USC (13-1, 3-0) extended its lead in the third quarter and outscored Nebraska by nine points. Senior forward/center Rayah Marshall and Iriafen held former Big Ten Freshman of the Year and multiple-time All-Big Ten honoree Alexis Markowski to two points in the first half. The Trojans’ post duo held Cornhuskers’ 6-foot-3 forward/center to three-of-11 shooting from the field and just seven points. Guard Logan Nissley led Nebraska with 14 points. USC will face Rutgers and Maryland next on its first multi-game conference trip of the season
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