JuJu Watkins broke out of a scoring hunch with 38 factors, serving to sixth-ranked USC topple No. 1 UCLA 71-60 and additional delivering on her aim of restoring this system to its earlier glory.
A few of these Trojans stars from the early Eighties — together with Corridor of Famers Cheryl Miller and Tina Thompson — joined a raucous crowd as USC rallied for this system’s first win over a top-ranked crew since 1983 on Thursday evening.
“Gonna be a kind of nights,” DJ Mal-Ski instructed the soldout crowd of 10,258 throughout pregame warmups.
It absolutely was.
After her sister Mali sang the nationwide anthem, Watkins scored eight factors in 5 minutes to begin the sport when the Trojans put the Bruins in an early gap.
“JuJu obtained sizzling off the bounce and he or she obtained in a rhythm,” UCLA coach Cori Shut stated.
Watkins had all of USC’s factors within the second quarter once they have been outscored 20-14. She stopped the Bruins’ 10-0 run with a 3-pointer that saved the Trojans forward 38-35 on the half.
It was her second-highest scoring recreation of the season, simply two factors shy of her 40-point effort towards California Baptist on Dec. 3.
“I put on #12 to be like JuJu,” learn an indication held by a teenager. Flea from Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers wore a JuJu T-shirt.
So did the predominantly cardinal-clad crowd that was various in its age, gender and racial make-up, a testomony to Watkins’ drawing energy and the assist she enjoys from the close by Watts neighborhood the place she grew up.
Watkins got here into the sport capturing 12-of-45 from the ground in her final two house video games. She was simply 4-of-25 from 3-point vary in that span, too.
She hit 6-of-9 3-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws to go along with 11 rebounds, eight blocks and 5 assists.
“She takes pleasure on either side of the ball,” Shut stated.
Additionally within the crowd have been actors Kevin Hart and Issa Rae, NFL rookie of the 12 months Jayden Daniels, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby of the LA Sparks, and Vanessa Bryant and daughter Natalia.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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