USC Women’s Basketball Triumphs 75-55 Against Nebraska in New Year’s Day Showdown

LOS ANGELES — The No. 4 USC women’s basketball squad saw JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen collectively score 40 points in the Trojans’ 75-55 victory over Nebraska, which visited on New Year’s Day at Galen Center. This triumph marks USC’s first 3-0 start in conference action since the 2013-14 season, elevating their overall record to 13-1. The Cornhuskers now stand at 10-4, with a 1-2 record in Big Ten competition.

USC initiated a 10-0 scoring streak late in the second quarter to overturn a five-point shortfall, finishing the half with a 39-35 lead. The Trojans bettered Nebraska’s shooting with an accuracy of 48.5 percent compared to the Huskers’ 46.4 percent, although Nebraska led in rebounding 18-16 by halftime. Each of the nine Trojans who played in the first half scored, and by halftime, nine Cornhuskers had also managed to record points. Although USC’s scoring momentum slowed slightly, Nebraska’s efficiency diminished even more, as they went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half. USC concluded the game shooting 45 percent, surpassing the Huskers’ 34.5 percent. Both teams finished with an equal rebounding total of 36.

JuJu Watkins emerged as the game’s leading scorer with a 26-point performance, complemented by four assists. Kiki Iriafen also reached double figures — marking the 14th consecutive USC game in which both players have scored in double digits. Nebraska’s Logan Nissley contributed 14 points while Britt Prince added 10.

The score was tied three times during the first quarter before USC mounted an 8-0 run, kicked off by a basket from JuJu Watkins. She accounted for six points in that push, with Clarice Akunwafo contributing another score in the paint, giving USC a 16-8 advantage with 2:00 remaining in the quarter. Nebraska responded with two consecutive baskets to close the quarter at a 16-12 deficit. The Huskers briefly took the lead in the second quarter, nailing the first 3-pointer of the game with 7:32 on the clock, pushing ahead 19-18. USC quickly answered as Talia von Oelhoffen sank a three-pointer following a Trojan timeout, only for Nebraska to respond with another three and two free throws, regaining the lead at 24-21 at 5:07. Nebraska had a 30-25 advantage with 2:45 left in the half when Avery Howell hit a baseline 3-pointer, igniting a USC comeback. Kayleigh Heckel registered a floater in the lane, and Watkins added a basket and a three-pointer, totaling a 10-0 run for USC to go up 35-30. That lead remained intact until halftime, with USC ahead 39-34.

Kiki Iriafen joined Watkins in double digits early in the third, and a steal by Rayah Marshall set up a fastbreak layup for Kennedy Smith, putting USC up 45-38 four minutes into the second half. A three-point play by Smith widened the margin to the Trojans’ largest lead of the contest, going up 52-42 with 1:30 remaining in the quarter. The rest of the quarter was primarily defined by free throws; after five consecutive successful attempts from Watkins, USC led 59-45 entering the final quarter. USC commenced the last quarter with the initial 12 points of the period, creating a 17-0 run that expanded their lead to 71-45 with 4:00 on the clock. Nebraska finally achieved their first field goal in nearly 10 minutes with a 3-pointer at 3:51, and they completed the game with a few additional points, resulting in a final score of 77-55 in favor of USC.

NEXT: 

USC is set to embark on an East Coast trip to continue Big Ten action, facing Rutgers on Sunday (Jan. 5) at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a matchup at Maryland on Wednesday (Jan. 8) for an 8:30 p.m. ET game.

 

NOTABLE:

– This marks the first instance of the Trojans initiating conference play with a 3-0 record since the 2013-14 season.

– SO JuJu Watkins (26 points) and GS Kiki Iriafen (14) have both hit double figures in each of the 14 USC games thus far this season.

– Watkins has now scored 20 or more points in 40 of her 48 career games at USC.

– With three blocks, SR Rayah Marshall has achieved at least one block in the past 12 games.

– SR Clarice Akunwafo equaled her career high with three steals.

– This is the fourth occasion this season in which Watkins has netted 10 or more free throws (11 today).

– The Trojans now have recorded nine 20-point wins this season.

– This is the seventh game this season for USC in which they accumulated 20+ assists.

– The Trojans have improved to 12-0 when winning the rebounding battle against an opponent.

– This is the 10th game this season where USC has limited an opponent to under 60 points.

– USC is historically 4-5 against Nebraska, having lost the last five previous matchups. Before today, USC’s last victory over Nebraska was during the 1993 NCAA Tournament on March 21 in Los Angeles (78-60).

– USC had lost its previous three games played on New Year’s Day (2023 at Oregon, 2021 at Oregon, 2017 at Utah). The last time USC secured a victory on January 1 was in 2010 at Arizona State.