USC sophomore guard JuJu Watkins (left) averaged 25.5 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game this season (Michael Young/L.A. Sentinel)

The USC Trojans women’s basketball team delivered a dominant performance against the Penn State Lady Lions in a Big Ten matchup at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. USC secured a 95-73 victory, extending their winning streak to 12 games.

The Trojans came out firing on all cylinders, excelling on both ends of the court. Their momentum surged late in the second quarter, ending in an 18-0 run that helped USC take a commanding 56-31 lead at halftime.

At one point during the first half, the Trojans built their largest lead of 18 points. Sophomore guard Juju Watkins was unstoppable, leading USC with 20 points in the first half while shooting a perfect eight-of-eight from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, along with three steals.

Watkins continued her excellent play in the second half, finishing with 35 points on an efficient 13-of-15 shooting, 11 rebounds, and five steals—just one shy of her career-best.  Senior forward Kiki Iriafen also made a significant impact, contributing 28 points, four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Together, Watkins and Iriafen accounted for 63 points.

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USC senior forward Rayah Marchall (13) defends Penn State junior forward Grace Hall (Michael Young/L.A. Sentinel)

Offensive efficiency was a major factor in their victory, as they shot 52.1 percent from the field compared to 38 percent from Penn State.

USC also controlled the boards, outrebounding the Lady Lions 44-38. Penn State struggled in the first half, shooting just 34 percent, while USC maintained a 58.3 percent shooting average over the same span.  Despite a great effort from Penn State in the second half, the Lady Lions could not close the gap.

Talayah Waker led Penn State with 18 points, while Gabby Elliott (14 points), Gracie Merkle (13 points), and Alli Campbell (10 points) also reached double figures. USC led by as much as 27 points in the second half, the feat was achieved midway through the third quarter.

The victory improved the Trojans record to 16-1 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten play, marking their best conference start since the 1993-94 season. Meanwhile, Penn State fell to 9-8 overall and 0-6 in conference play.

USC sophomore guard Malia Samuels (left) scored three points and two assists (Michael Young/L.A. Sentinel)

The USC game held additional significance as it marked their first home appearance since the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles. Despite the challenges facing the city, the team remained focused and committed to spreading positivity.

“It’s just a lot going on in the city, and we’re going to do everything we can to help from a philanthropy aspect,” Watkins shared in her post-game interview. “We’re trying to spread positivity in the community right now through what we do.”

Iriafen echoed her teammate’s feelings.

“We’re very blessed to come here today and play basketball. If we can put a smile on people’s faces for two hours or give them an escape from everything that’s going on, we’re super grateful to do that,” she said.

Both Watkins and Iriafen have deep ties to Los Angeles, with Watkins from Watts and Iriafen from the San Fernando Valley. Watkins is a Sierra Canyon High School alum; Iriafen, a recent transfer from Stanford University, attended Harvard-Westlake High School.

The Trojans now look ahead to their next challenge, hitting the road to face Indiana in Bloomington on Jan. 19