In her first three games with the Women of Troy basketball team, freshman guard Juju Watkins has made history.
In their 93-42 win against the Le Moyne Dolphins, the reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week led with 35 points, nine rebounds and six steals. Rappers YG and Jay 306 along with former NFL star Frostee Rucker and Fox Sports personality Joy Taylor witnessed Watkins reach her new career high.
In her third game with the Women of Troy, Juju Watkins dropped 35 points against the Le Moyne Dolphins pic.twitter.com/PaTTrNAPtu
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) November 14, 2023
“It’s very heartwarming just to feel the energy here, feel all the love, it’s amazing, especially that it’s in my hometown,” Watkins said. “I’m able to see people that I don’t really get to see as often and see family and little kids, it’s really cool.”
Watkins was 6-8 from behind the arc, helping the Women of Troy made a combined 12 three-pointers.
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“We have a lot of really good shooters and when that ball’s moving, it’s hard,” said USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsey Gottlieb. “I was pleased that we were able to knock down 39 percent tonight, which is closer to where we want to be: a 40 percent three-point-shooting team.”
The Women of Troy kept Le Moyne scoreless for the first five minutes of the game. Junior forward Rayah Marshall and Watkins led the offense, helping USC to a 21-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Watkins had eight points in that time.
At the half, USC freshman guard Juju Watkins has 17 points against the Le Moyne Dolphins. The Dolphins have 20 points
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) November 14, 2023
By halftime, Watkins had scored 17 points, three points shy of the Dolphins’ total score. In the final phase, she scored 13 points in under five regulated minutes. Gottlieb mentioned how Watkins has a strong work ethic and has good chemistry with her teammates.
“There’s not really any big flaws in her game … there isn’t a missing element,” Gottlieb said. “She’s extremely coachable. She’s gotten way better at defense, even in the month that she’s been here because she cares.”
In her rookie debut, Watkins helped the Women of Troy defeat the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes 83-74 by scoring 32 points. In her effort, she broke a record set by Lisa Leslie who scored 30 points in her freshman debut on November 25, 1990, when USC upset the No. 7 Texas 88-77.
The victory over Ohio State was also the first time the Women of Troy defeated a nationally ranked team in their season opener since the victory over Texas in 1990. Watkins’ historic efforts made her the seventh USC student athlete to be named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
“I didn’t really have that many expectations for myself, just to come in and contribute as much as I can to the team,” Watkins said. “That’s pretty much all I try to hold myself accountable for, but it’s been a great week for the team.”
The Women of Troy reached the Top 10 in the AP Poll for the first time since 1994.
