JuJu Watkins dominates in No. 10 USC's win over Le Moyne

JuJu Watkins dominates with 35 points in No. 10 USC’s win over Le Moyne

USC guard JuJu Watkins is surrounded by Le Moyne players during the Trojans' 93-42 victory Monday at Galen Center.

By Beth Harris

Associated Press

Nov. 13, 2023 7:25 PM PT

JuJu Watkins scored 35 points, hitting six three-pointers, and No. 10 USC routed Le Moyne 93-42 on Monday night.

Watkins has totaled 83 points in her first three college games, including 32 in the Trojans’ season-opening victory over then-No. 7 Ohio State last week. She was named Pac-12 freshman of the week for her performances.

Watkins scored 13 of the Trojans’ first 15 points in the fourth and then sat down for good. They led 91-32, allowing Lindsay Gottlieb to go to her bench. Aaliyah Gayles got into her second straight game, her first collegiate action since recovering after being shot 18 times at a house party in Las Vegas in 2022.

Rayah Marshall added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Trojans. As the tallest player on the floor at 6-foot-4, Marshall dominated in the paint against the shorter Dolphins, who have no one over 6-1 on their roster.

USC (3-0) raced to an 11-0 lead and ran off 12 straight points over the end of the first and start of the second quarter to go up 28-8. Watkins scored eight in a row, completing a four-point play, and the Trojans went into halftime leading 46-20.

Lytoya Baker scored 14 points to lead the Dolphins (0-4), whose roster includes seven freshmen and sophomores.

Le Moyne proved hopelessly overmatched as the game went on.

USC outscored the Dolphins 30-8 in the third, including a 21-0 run that featured six different players scoring. The Trojans led 76-28 going into the fourth, when Watkins took over.

Thanks to a season-opening upset of then-No. 7 Ohio State, the Trojans jumped 11 spots to No. 10 in Monday’s AP Top 25 poll, their highest ranking since finishing the season seventh in 1993-94. Watkins immediately made a mark, scoring 50 points in her first two games combined, equaling a record set by Cheryl Miller as a freshman in 1982-83.

Up next for USC: Versus Seton Hall on Nov. 20 in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in the Bahamas.