In a thrilling matchup that saw momentum swing back and forth, the No. 18 Utah women’s basketball team halted the No. 7 USC Trojans’ seven-game win streak with a hard-fought 74-68 victory on Saturday. Utah’s sharp shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, proved decisive as they outperformed USC in the first half, boasting a 44% shooting accuracy and sinking six 3-pointers compared to USC’s lone triple. Despite USC’s efforts to claw back into contention, Utah maintained their lead throughout, finishing with an impressive 48.9% three-point shooting percentage.
Although USC held the advantage in rebounding, securing 36 boards compared to Utah’s 30, their lower overall shooting percentage of 40.3% and a season-low four 3-pointers ultimately cost them the game. The defeat drops USC’s overall record to 21-5, with an 11-5 mark in Pac-12 play, while Utah improves to 20-8 overall and 10-6 in conference action. JuJu Watkins continued to shine for USC, leading her team in scoring for the 24th time this season with an impressive stat line of 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
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Kaitlyn Davis also made significant contributions, scoring 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds, while McKenzie Forbes added 10 points, including two 3-pointers. Utah, meanwhile, showcased a balanced scoring attack led by Alissa Pili with 23 points and nine rebounds, Kennedy McQueen with 14 points, Dasia Young with 13 points, and Maty Wike with 11 points. The game saw USC struggle early on as Utah raced to a 7-0 lead in the opening stretch. Despite USC’s improved performance in the subsequent periods, Utah’s proficiency from long range kept them ahead.
While USC managed to tie the game twice in the third quarter, Utah never relinquished their lead, ultimately securing the six-point victory. Watkins’ stellar performance not only led USC in scoring but also saw her break the program’s freshman single-season scoring record, averaging 28.1 points and 7 rebounds in Saturday’s contest. With two regular-season games remaining, USC, trailing only Stanford in the Pac-12 standings, looks to Watkins and their squad to continue their impressive run in both the conference and NCAA tournaments.
