USC Women’s Basketball Dominates Rutgers with a commanding 92-42 Victory!

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — JuJu Watkins achieved her 11th career double-double, while Rayah Marshall surpassed the 1,000-rebound milestone during a dominant Big Ten triumph for the No. 4 USC women’s basketball squad, securing their 10th consecutive victory with a 92-42 triumph over Rutgers tonight. The Trojans enhance their record to 14-1 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten action, with 10 players contributing to the scoring effort in Piscataway. Rutgers now stands at 8-7, 0-4.

USC took charge early, distributing the ball effectively, resulting in seven Trojans listed in the scoring as they established a 37-14 lead by halftime at Rutgers. The Trojans recorded a shooting percentage of 38.7 in the first half, while the Scarlet Knights managed only 22.2 percent from the floor during those opening 20 minutes. USC also excelled on the boards, outrebounding their opponents 28-13. The Trojans initiated the second half with a 12-0 run and connected on five 3-pointers in the third quarter, building a substantial lead. USC concluded the game with an overall shooting percentage of 40.3 and dominated the rebounding battle against Rutgers 56-28. The Scarlet Knights ended the game shooting 28 percent from the floor and committed 27 turnovers, which converted into 38 points for USC.

USC’s Watkins combined a game-high 23 points with a career-best 14 rebounds for her second double-double this season, supported by freshman Kennedy Smith’s career-best 19 points and Kiki Iriafen’s 14 points. Marshall recorded her 1,000th career rebound by halftime, finishing with a total of 10 rebounds for the Trojans. JoJo Lacey contributed 14 points for Rutgers, while Destiny Adams achieved a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights.

A JuJu Watkins three-pointer ignited a USC early surge, allowing the Trojans to secure a 10-1 advantage before Rutgers managed its initial field goal at 5:20 remaining. Watkins quickly answered with another shot shortly after that Scarlet Knight score, extending the lead to 13-3, followed by Avery Howell landing one from the baseline to increase it to 18-4 as the first quarter neared its end. Kiki Iriafen scored two more baskets for the Trojans in the final moments, allowing USC to hold a 22-8 lead after the first 10 minutes. The second quarter commenced slower, but some determined defensive plays by Kennedy Smith prompted USC to execute an 11-0 run, establishing a 33-10 lead with 3:55 to go. Clarice Akunwafo thwarted a Scarlet Knight attempt soon after, while Kayleigh Heckel and Malia Samuels each registered points before the halftime whistle, concluding with a 37-14 lead for USC at the break. 

Smith made consecutive three-pointers to start the second half, igniting a 12-0 rally for the Trojans. Rutgers ended that streak, but Rayah Marshall responded with a score in the paint followed by a three-pointer, pushing the lead to 54-16 just two minutes into the half. The offensive onslaught continued as four Trojans hit at least one three-pointer in the third quarter, leading to a 69-24 advantage for USC heading into the final quarter. Rutgers found its rhythm from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter, making all four of their attempts, but quickly saw USC embark on another 12-0 run midway through the period, with Vivian Iwuchukwu contributing to the Trojan scoring. USC’s final points of the evening came from Aaliyah Gayles, culminating in a commanding 92-42 victory over Rutgers at the final horn.

NEXT: 

USC will travel to Maryland to face the No. 8 Terrapins at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday (Jan. 8) in College Park, Md.

 

NOTABLE:

– USC’s 14-1 opening to the season marks its finest since the 1993-94 term.

– The victory signifies USC’s first 4-0 conference start since the 2012-13 season.

– With her sixth rebound in the first half, SR Rayah Marshall achieved her 1,000th career rebound

– Marshall ascended to No. 24 on USC’s all-time career scoring list with nine points on the night (1,122 total).

– SO JuJu Watkins (23 points) and GS Kiki Iriafen (14) have both scored in double digits in every one of USC’s 15 games this season.

– With 23 points and a career-high of 14 rebounds, Watkins posted her second double-double of the season and 11th overall during her USC career.

– Watkins has recorded 20 or more points in 41 of her 49 career games at USC.

– With three made 3-pointers, Watkins has successfully hit at least one three in USC’s last 10 games.

– With 19 points, FR Kennedy Smith established a new career best.

– Smith also achieved a personal-best six steals, and has recorded at least two steals in six of the eight games played this season.

– FR Vivian Iwuchukwu scored a personal-best six points this evening.

– Iriafen achieved a season-high three blocks.

– With one block, Marshall has now made at least one block in the last 13 games.

– This marks the fourth occasion this season where the Trojans have attained a 50-point or greater margin of victory.

– The Trojans restricted the Scarlet Knights to a season-low of 42 points overall, just six points in the second quarter and a season-low of 14 points in the first half (the fewest points scored in any quarter or half this season).

– This is the 11th game this season in which USC has kept an opponent under 60 points.

– USC matched its season high with 56 rebounds, maintaining a perfect 12-0 record when outrebounding an opponent.