LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kiki Iriafen delivered a commanding performance with 24 points and 13 rebounds as No. 7 USC overpowered No. 8 Ohio State 84-63 on Saturday night, despite an off night from star guard JuJu Watkins.
Watkins, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, struggled with her shot, missing her first 11 attempts before finally converting a layup in the third quarter to the delight of the home crowd. She finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds but shot just 5-of-21 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.
USC (21-2, 11-1 Big Ten) started slow, missing its first seven shots and committing five turnovers in the opening five minutes. However, they found their rhythm and took control by halftime, closing the second quarter on a 13-6 run to lead 34-26.
Ohio State Struggles to Keep Up
Taylor Thierry led the Buckeyes (20-3, 9-3) with 14 points before fouling out with 5:37 remaining. Cotie McMahon added 13 points, but Ohio State couldn’t recover after a strong start. The Buckeyes had already suffered a tough loss to No. 1 UCLA earlier in their road trip and were unable to find their footing against another top-ranked opponent.
USC Pulls Away in the Second Half
The Trojans dominated the third quarter, closing with a 9-2 run that extended their lead to 59-45. Watkins contributed five points in the surge, while Kayleigh Heckel chipped in with four. USC’s defense tightened, and Ohio State had no answer for Iriafen’s inside presence.
Despite the win, USC will need Watkins to find her shooting form quickly, as they prepare for a highly anticipated rematch against No. 1 UCLA in a sold-out home game on Thursday. The Trojans also need to clean up their ball control after committing 23 turnovers, their second-worst mark of the season.
Meanwhile, Ohio State will look to bounce back when they host Minnesota on Thursday.
