USC Women’s Basketball Battles Top Rivals Rutgers and Maryland in Thrilling Big Ten Showdown!

Women’s Basketball | January 03, 2025

#4 USC (13-1, 3-0) at Rutgers (8-5, 0-2)
Jersey Mike’s Arena | Piscataway, N.J. | Sunday, Jan. 5 | 8 p.m. ET
Series Record (since 1979-80): USC is behind 2-5 (L4)
First Encounter: L 68-62 [1/5/80 • Piscataway]
Last Encounter: L 66-51 [11/26/09 • U.S. Virgin Islands]
TV: BTN (Talent: Ed Cohen & Meghan McKeown) | STATS

#4 USC at #8 Maryland (12-0, 2-0)

XFINITY Center | College Park, Md. | Wednesday, Jan. 8 | 8:30 p.m. ET

Series Record (since 1979-80): USC is ahead 5-1 (W2)

First Encounter: W 63-61 [1/4/80 • College Park]

Last Encounter: W 68-62 [12/29/95 • Westwood, Calif.]

TV: FS1 (Talent: Sloane Martin & Christy Winters Scott) | STATS

THIS WEEK

No. 4/5 USC now embarks on an East Coast journey for additional Big Ten competition. The Trojans (13-1, 3-0 Big Ten) are set to visit Rutgers (8-5, 0-2) on Sunday (Jan. 5) for an 8 p.m. ET encounter before proceeding to No. 8/7 Maryland (12-0, 2-0) for an 8:30 p.m. ET matchup on Wednesday (Jan. 8).

STAY UPDATED

USC’s game at Rutgers will be televised on the Big Ten Network featuring Ed Cohen and Meghan McKeown on commentary. The USC game at Maryland will be shown on FS1 with Sloane Martin and Christy Winters Scott on the broadcast. All of USC’s games are also streamed live on ESPN radio and through audio at USCTrojans.com/listen and the USC Trojans GameDay app with Eli Kleinmann providing the radio commentary.

IN THE RANKINGS

This week, USC is positioned at No. 4 in the AP poll and No. 5 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll (as of Dec. 31). The Trojans achieved a No. 3 ranking in both the AP and USA TODAY preseason polls and maintained a national ranking for the first three weeks of the 2024-25 season, their highest preseason ranking since 1984, when USC began at No. 1 after securing back-to-back national championships. USC ended last season ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll.

QUICK FACTS

• Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins have scored in double digits in all 14 USC games so far this season.

• Watkins has converted at least one 3-pointer over the last nine games.

• Iriafen and Watkins are the second USC pair to each score 30-plus points in a game, as they did against SLU on Nov. 29. [The first duo was Lisa Leslie and Tammy Story vs. Texas on Nov. 25, 1990.]

• HC Lindsay Gottlieb achieved her 300th career victory as a head coach in USC’s 123-39 triumph over CSUN on Nov. 12.

• Watkins reached her 1,000th career point against Santa Clara on Nov. 15, becoming the quickest player in USC history to achieve the 1,000-point milestone in just 38 games.

• The previous record was 48 games — accomplished by Cheryl Miller in 1983-84.

• Watkins’s 1,000 points in 38 games ranks as the second fastest in Division 1 women’s basketball history, behind a few players who reached it in 37 games.

• Watkins is the 30th Trojan to accumulate 1,000 points at USC.

• Watkins established a new USC single-game 3-point record with nine 3-pointers made against CBU on Dec. 3.

• Rayah Marshall achieved her 1,000th career point on Nov. 9 against Cal Poly, becoming the 29th USC player to surpass 1,000 points as a Trojan.

• Marshall ranks No. 3 all-time at USC for career blocks (264) and No. 8 in career rebounds (994).

• Marshall has recorded at least one block in the last 12 games for USC (29 in total during that span).

• USC has achieved two games scoring more than 100 points this season — the most since two in 1993-94.

• With 124 points against CSUN, USC set the record for most points in a game in program history (previous record: 121 vs. Southern Methodist on 3/1/86).

• The 85-point victory over CSUN is the largest margin of victory in USC history, beating the previous record of 75 points against UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 27, 1981.

• USC’s 124 points against CSUN is the second highest in Big Ten history, following Purdue’s 129 points versus Kent State on 12/8/1990.

• USC’s triumph over No. 20 Ole Miss on Nov. 4 marked the first instance in program history that the Trojans have played and defeated ranked opponents in consecutive season openers.

• In that victory on Nov. 4, USC had two players achieve double-doubles (Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins) in a season opener for the first time since 2010 (Briana Gilbreath and Christina Marinacci vs. Gonzaga).

• Concluding with a 29-6 record last season, USC recorded its most wins since finishing 31-5 in 1985-86 under head coach Linda Sharp.

• Last season, USC secured the program’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986.

• USC’s 2024 NCAA Elite Eight appearance was its first since 1994.

• USC’s 23 wins in the regular season last year marked the most such victories since 1993-94.

LAST PERFORMANCE

USC had JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen combine for 40 points in the Trojans’ 75-55 victory against Nebraska on New Year’s Day at Galen Center. This win gives USC its first 3-0 start to conference action since the 2013-14 season, enhancing their overall record to 13-1. USC employed a 10-0 scoring burst towards the end of the second quarter to erase a five-point deficit and concluded the half with a 39-35 advantage. The Trojans shot 48.5 percent from the field, slightly outpacing Nebraska’s 46.4 percent performance, despite the Huskers leading in rebounds 18-16 by halftime. All nine Trojans who played in the initial half contributed to the scoring during those first 20 minutes, and similarly, nine Huskers also appeared on the scoreboard by halftime. USC’s scoring rhythm slowed somewhat, but Nebraska’s output fell further as the Huskers struggled with field goals for nearly 10 minutes in the second half. USC concluded the game with a shooting percentage of 45 overall, contrasting with the Huskers’ 34.5 percent performance. Both teams finished with even rebounds at 36-36. JuJu Watkins was the standout scorer with 26 points, along with four assists. Kiki Iriafen also reached double figures — marking all 14 USC games in which the duo has scored in double digits. Nebraska saw contributions of 14 points from Logan Nissley and 10 from Britt Prince.

NOTABLE:

– This marks the first time the Trojans have commenced conference play with a 3-0 record since the 2013-14 season.

– SO JuJu Watkins (26 points) and GS Kiki Iriafen (14) have both achieved double-digit scoring in all 14 USC games this season.

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

– With 11 successful free throws, Watkins has tallied 10 or more free throws in four games this season.

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

– SR Clarice Akunwafo matched her career best with two steals.

– The Trojans have now achieved nine victories by 20 points or more this season.

– This marks the seventh match this season where USC amassed over 20 assists.

– This is the 10th contest this season in which USC has kept an opponent below 60 points.

– USC’s record against Nebraska is now 4-5 historically, having lost the last five encounters. Prior to today, USC’s last victory against Nebraska occurred during the 1993 NCAA Tournament on March 21 in Los Angeles (78-60).

– USC had dropped its last three games played on New Year’s Day (2023 at Oregon, 2021 at Oregon, 2017 at Utah). The Trojans’ most recent win on January 1 was in 2010 at Arizona State.

WE WIN AT UCONN

USC responded to a challenging moment in Hartford, Conn., overcoming a late surge from No. 4 host UConn to secure a nerve-wracking 72-70 triumph over the Huskies — USC’s inaugural victory over UConn in program history. The Trojans had a lead as high as 18 points early in the second half but watched the Huskies respond in front of a crowd of 15,684 at the XL Center. UConn managed to take its first lead of the game with a one-point edge with 4:25 remaining, and the contest was tied at 67-67 with 2:25 left. Rayah Marshall made a critical shot in the paint, putting USC ahead for a lead that would remain intact despite last-minute free-throw opportunities from the Huskies with five seconds on the clock. JuJu Watkins’ two shots from the line with 20 seconds remaining gave USC a 72-69 advantage, while only one of three late attempts from the Huskies made it through in a thrilling finish to this top-10 showdown in Connecticut. USC nailed seven 3-pointers in the first half and held UConn scoreless from the floor for the final three minutes of that half, leading to a 42-29 advantage at the interval. The Trojans shot 48.6 percent from the field overall up to that point, compared to UConn’s 35.5 percent, and USC was ahead on the boards 22-19 by halftime. JuJu Watkins was the sole player in double digits through the first half, amassing 15 points, while Kiki Iriafen collected nine rebounds by the break. The second half presented a contrasting story as UConn improved to 43.5 percent overall and added four 3-pointers. USC finished shooting at a rate of 49.2 percent and hit nine threes while narrowly edging the rebounding battle 33-32 by the final whistle. USC was led by JuJu Watkins’ game-high 25 points, complemented by a double-double from Kiki Iriafen with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Iriafen also logged a career-high six assists. Back from an injury, USC freshman Kennedy Smith achieved a career-high hitting three 3-pointers for the Trojans. UConn had two players finish with 22 points each, Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong, with Strong also grabbing 13 rebounds.

NOTABLE:

– JuJu Watkins (25 points) and Kiki Iriafen (16) have both consistently scored in double digits across all 12 USC games this season.

– With three 3-pointers made, Watkins has successfully landed at least one three in the past seven matches.

– With her 16 points and a team-leading 11 rebounds, Iriafen achieved her fifth double-double in USC’s last six games and sixth overall as a Trojan.

– Iriafen also dished out a career-best six assists.

– Kennedy Smith achieved a career-high by making three 3-pointers; she had missed the previous seven games due to surgery.

– With two blocks, Rayah Marshall has achieved at least one block in the last 10 matches.

– This was USC’s first win against a top-10 adversary this season, now at 1-1 in such matchups following a loss to then-No. 6/5 Notre Dame on Nov. 23.

– USC now holds a 1-3 all-time record against UConn since the series began in the 2002-03 season.

JUJU EARNS FIRST BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR

JuJu Watkins is the inaugural Trojan to be recognized as a Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, receiving the accolade on Dec. 9 from USC’s new league. Watkins had previously been named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll twice this season, but Dec. 9 marked her first selection as Player of the Week. She averaged 30.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks over USC’s two victories that week, as the Trojans triumphed over California Baptist 94-52 at Galen Center before commencing Big Ten play with their first true road game, earning a 66-53 win at Oregon. Against CBU, Watkins netted 40 points and established USC’s program record for the most 3-pointers made in a game, hitting nine threes. Her 9-of-11 success rate from beyond the arc became a new career best for Watkins, who also recorded zero turnovers during the game. Her 40-point performance was the second-highest tally by any D1 player this season, making her only the third Big Ten athlete in the last 25 years to score 40 points while making nine 3-pointers in a single game. It was Watkins’ 16th career game scoring 30 or more points. At Oregon, despite battling foul trouble, Watkins still managed to record a game-high 21 points in just under 28 minutes of play. It marked the 35th occasion in her 43 career games played where Watkins scored 20 or more points. Additionally, that week, Watkins garnered national accolades, being named the Associated Press National Player of the Week as well as one of five USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Players of the Week. Watkins duplicated this combination of honors with Big Ten, AP, and USBWA recognition following USC’s victory at UConn on Dec. 21. On Dec. 31, Watkins captured a third round of honors from both AP and USBWA.

OUI WIN IN PARIS

USC maintained its composure at the free-throw line to secure a 68-66 victory over No. 20 Ole Miss, rallying from a four-point deficit in the fourth to kick off the 2024-25 season with a triumph in Paris, France. The Trojans participated in the first official collegiate basketball matchup of the season, showcasing their skills at Adidas Arena in Paris during an Aflac Oui-Play Game. USC surged offensively in the second quarter and remained gritty on defense, transforming a three-point deficit into an 11-point halftime lead. The Trojans shot 51.7 percent from the field in the initial 20 minutes while limiting the Rebels to 17.9 percent, and USC led on the boards 26-25 by halftime. JuJu Watkins tallied 16 points, with three USC freshmen also getting on the scoresheet in their Trojan debuts by halftime. Ole Miss found success with some 3-pointers in the second half, reducing the Trojan lead, but USC displayed poise at the free-throw line in the fourth, going an impressive 14-of-14 to counter the Rebels’ late rally. Ole Miss outscored USC 40-31 in the second half, but the Trojans united to clinch the win. USC concluded the game shooting 40 percent overall from the field, hitting 23-of-29 from the free-throw line, and outrebounding Ole Miss 48-43. The Rebels ended with a shooting percentage of 29.7 percent from the floor, despite a 30-percent success rate (7-of-23) from beyond the arc. The Trojans were led by double-doubles from Kiki Iriafen and Watkins. Iriafen recorded a game-high 13 rebounds alongside her 22 points, while Watkins achieved a game-best 27 points along with 10 rebounds. USC freshman Kennedy Smith also reached double figures in her Trojan debut with 12 points. Ole Miss was led in scoring by Kristen Deans with 19 points and Madison Scott with 14.

NOTABLE:

– Three USC freshmen made their debuts: Kennedy Smith (starter), Kayleigh Heckel, and Avery Howell.

– Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins both achieved double-doubles for USC, marking the first time since 2010 that two Trojans recorded double-doubles in a USC season opener.

– The matchup against No. 20 Ole Miss represented the eighth occurrence of USC facing a ranked opponent in a season opener.in program history. 

– This marks only the second occasion in program history where USC has encountered a ranked rival in successive season openers — Last year, USC commenced with a victory over No. 7 Ohio State; USC triumphed over Old Dominion in the 1986-87 season opener and was defeated by Texas in the 1987-88 season opener). 

– This is the inaugural instance that USC has triumphed over a ranked adversary in consecutive season openers.

WATCH THIS            

Four Women of Troy are in contention for distinguished accolades this season, as Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall, Talia von Oelhoffen, and JuJu Watkins have all been included in the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List presented by AXIA Time. This marks the second Watch List recognition for returning Trojans Marshall and Watkins, while it is the first for newcomers Iriafen and von Oelhoffen. 

    Iriafen, a 6-3 forward recognized as the 2024 Katrina McClain National Power Forward of the Year, has joined the USC women’s basketball program as a graduate transfer from Stanford. After a remarkable junior season with the Cardinal, she received the 2024 All-America Honorable Mention accolade, continuing to elevate her performance with her first Naismith Watch List selection just after being named an AP Preseason All-American. Iriafen was also recently selected for the 20-player 2025 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Watch List.

    Marshall, a 6-4 senior center/forward, embarks on her final season at USC with 996 career points and 35 double-doubles. Her second appearance on the Naismith Watch List follows her recognition as an All-Pac-12 Team member in her sophomore year and as Honorable Mention in her junior year. She was also honored by being named to the NCAA Portland Region 3 All-Tournament Team for her contributions to USC’s first Elite Eight advancement in 30 years. Recently, Marshall earned a spot on the 20-player Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List.

    Having been an All-Pac-12 Team selection at Oregon State, von Oelhoffen was pivotal in helping the Beavers reach the NCAA Elite Eight last season and is now commencing her inaugural season at USC with a spot not only on the Naismith Watch List but also the Nancy Lieberman National Point Guard of the Year Award Watch List. A 5-11 guard, von Oelhoffen averaged 5.0 assists per game last season while scoring an average of 10.7 points per game for the Beavers. She received a 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention and All-Pac-12 Team honors. Recently, Oelhoffen was also added to the 20-player Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watch List.

    A 6-2 guard, Watkins was named the National Freshman of the Year and was the No. 2 scorer in the nation last season. Now entering her sophomore season with the Women of Troy, she has already recorded 30 or more points in 14 games — a USC single-season record. Watkins was a unanimous pick for this year’s AP Preseason All-America list. Last year, she was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and was honored as the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Shooting Guard of the Year. Watkins was also recently recognized on the 20-player Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List for 2024-25.

GOLDEN GIRLS    

Representing Team USA, USC freshmen Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith — both of whom are McDonald’s All-Americans — collaborated to secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup held in Colombia, preserving the U.S. title streak at this event. Together, they contributed 31 points in the championship game, leading the USA to its 11th consecutive gold medal with an 80-69 win over Canada. A 5-9 guard from Port Chester, N.Y., Heckel maintained an average of 12.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game throughout Team USA’s undefeated run in the AmeriCup. From Chino, Calif., Smith topped Team USA in the gold-medal match with 18 points, including a personal six-point scoring streak that proved essential for securing a late critical lead. By the event’s conclusion, she averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.

BRING ON THE BIG TEN        

As USC embarks on its inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference, it achieved significant recognition from its new conference, securing the No. 1 position in the Preseason Rankings coinciding with JuJu Watkins’ selection as Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Watkins additionally joins fellow Trojan Kiki Iriafen on the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The Women of Troy have been chosen to lead the Big Ten in 2024-25, occupying the top slot ahead of No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Maryland, and No. 5 Indiana in both the coaches’ and media preseason polls. All five were NCAA Tournament teams last season, with USC having made the farthest advancement of the group with an Elite Eight appearance. UCLA and Indiana reached the 2024 Sweet Sixteen, while Ohio State advanced to the Second Round, and Maryland played in the First Round. The Women of Troy are set to host a challenging roster of Big Ten teams at the Galen Center and will face the remaining adversaries on their home turf. USC also plans to have a home-and-away series against cross-city rival UCLA. The Trojans will compete against two programs — Illinois and Wisconsin — for the first time, with additional matchups featuring the first visits to the Galen Center for several Big Ten opponents and the Trojans’ inaugural trips to numerous road locations. 

NOTABLE:

– As USC transitions into the Big Ten, it holds a 27-23 all-time record against current Big Ten members (this record does not include new entrants Oregon, UCLA, and Washington)

– USC will be taking on both Illinois and Wisconsin for the first time ever in program history.

– The 2024-25 encounters will showcase the first-ever visits to Galen Center for Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Penn State.

– USC is set to compete in away games against Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, and Wisconsin for the first time.

WE GOT GOTTLIEB     

As she enters her fourth year heading a program on an upward trajectory, USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has secured a contract extension through the 2029-30 season. Last season, Gottlieb led her Women of Troy on a remarkable journey to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight. A finalist for the Werner Ladder National Coach of the Year award, Gottlieb brought USC its second-ever Pac-12 Tournament championship and the program’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986. By the conclusion of USC’s initial Elite Eight appearance in three decades, Gottlieb’s team had compiled an overall record of 29-6 — the highest number of wins since Linda Sharp’s 1985-86 squad. Entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Trojans achieved their highest national ranking since finishing at No. 3 in the final AP poll of 1986. USC was predicted to place sixth in the Pac-12 but instead ended up second. Achieving its best-ever Pac-12 Tournament seeding at No. 2, the Trojans went on to defeat Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford, securing the 2024 Pac-12 championship.

WNBA DRAFT DOUBLE    

For the second consecutive year, USC saw multiple Trojans selected in the WNBA Draft, with 2024 selections going to graduate students McKenzie Forbes (Los Angeles Sparks) and Kaitlyn Davis (New York Liberty). After taking on pivotal leadership roles during USC’s journey to the NCAA Elite Eight, Forbes and Davis were chosen in the third round (April 15) as the 28th and 35th overall selections, respectively. Both had transferred to USC from the Ivy League in 2023 and have further solidified their legacies in the Trojan record books, marking a cumulative total of 18 players drafted into the WNBA from USC. Two Women of Troy — Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie — were inaugural elite picks in the WNBA back in 1997. Moreover, 14 additional Trojans have been drafted out of USC, including two selections in 2023 (Kadi Sissoko and Okako Adika) and now two more in 2024 with Forbes’ and Davis’ picks. This represents the fourth instance in which USC has had two players selected in a WNBA Draft. In 2012,

USC had Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath selected, and in 1997 Pam McGee and Tina Thompson were USC draftees.

LAST SEASON
In 2023-24, USC secured the program’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 1986 and embarked on a groundbreaking journey to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight. Entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament ranked No. 3 nationally, the Trojans achieved their highest ranking since they were placed No. 3 in the concluding AP poll of 1986. Predicted to finish sixth in the Pac-12 Conference, USC instead concluded in second place. With its highest-ever seed in the Pac-12 Tournament at No. 2, the Trojans triumphed over Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford to seize the 2024 Pac-12 championship. The 2023-24 Trojans wrapped up the season with an impressive record of 29-6 overall, representing the most victories by the program since 1985-86. USC’s 2023-24 season was also marked by a full-capacity crowd at Galen Center witnessing the Trojans defeat their rival UCLA, McKenzie Forbes being awarded the Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a record-breaking 51-point game by freshman JuJu Watkins in USC’s first victory at Stanford since 2002-03, and the distinction of hosting — and winning — the NCAA First and Second Rounds to secure a spot in the Sweet 16.

SIGNED!
USC is receiving another influx of elite talent with the addition of Jazzy Davidson, who will join USC as a freshman for 2025-26. She is the No. 3 recruit in the nation and has been part of Team USA’s U18 National Teams. A resident of Clackamas, Ore., Davidson was a semifinalist for the 2023-24 Naismith Trophy High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year during her junior year at Clackamas High. Standing 6-foot-1 as a left-handed guard/forward, Davidson was also honored as the 2022-23 Oregon Girls Basketball Player of the Year as a sophomore when Clackamas clinched the 2023 Class 6A state championship. This past summer, she represented the United States’ gold-medal winning U18 team at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup alongside two current USC freshmen — Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith. Davidson averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a team-leading 2.7 steals per game at the tournament, becoming the first U18 player since 2004 to achieve a flawless 100 percent shooting from the floor with five or more attempts in a game with her performance for Team USA against Mexico. In August, Davidson was also selected for the 2024 USA 3×3 Women’s U18 National Team, where she won gold once more with Team USA at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup. •

THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California stands as the indisputable, unmatched, and unquestionable premier destination for student-athletes. USC is home to 136 national team championships and ranks among the most prestigious private research institutions globally. Nestled in the vibrant Los Angeles metropolitan area, it lies in one of the most diverse and visible media markets worldwide. USC’s campus is a short drive from the stunning beaches of Southern California, the breathtaking mountain range of the Sierra Nevada, the expansive beauty of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the enigmatic Mojave Desert. The experience for student-athletes at USC is truly unparalleled.