No. 4 USC Women’s Basketball Overcomes Minnesota with Dominant Early Performance
Los Angeles, CA - On Thursday night at the Galen Center, the fourth-ranked USC Trojans showcased their dominance with an 82-69 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Trojans established an early lead, going up by 15 points midway through the first quarter, and maintained control throughout the game.
USC’s center, Kiki Iriafen, led all scorers with 23 points, adding 11 rebounds and three assists to her stat line. Freshman standout JuJu Watkins contributed a double-double, scoring 20 points and securing 11 rebounds. Despite a slow start, with only two points in the first half, Watkins found her rhythm in the latter stages of the game.
The Trojans early offensive surge was marked by five three-pointers in the opening quarter, propelling them to a 20-5 lead within the first six minutes. Minnesota struggled to contain USC’s versatile offense, which showcased depth and effective perimeter shooting.
Minnesota’s efforts to close the gap were led by center Sophie Hart, who scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Forward Mallory Heyer was efficient from beyond the arc, hitting five of seven three-point attempts to contribute 17 points. Guard Amaya Battle added 14 points and seven rebounds, providing a balanced offensive effort for the Gophers.
The Gophers managed to narrow the deficit to six points early in the fourth quarter, with Hart’s basket bringing the score to 64-58. However, USC’s Avery Howell responded with a timely three-pointer, halting Minnesota’s momentum and securing the Trojans lead.
With this victory, USC improved to 19-1 overall and 9-0 in Big Ten play, underscoring their dominance in the conference. Minnesota, now 18-4 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten, will look to rebound as they prepare to face top-ranked UCLA in their next matchup.
This game highlighted USC’s depth and resilience, with multiple players stepping up to contribute significantly. The Trojans ability to build an early lead and maintain composure under pressure was pivotal in securing this conference victory.