Kiki Iriafen lifts USC women to season-opening win over Mississippi in Paris
PARIS — Kiki Iriafen made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining to lift No. 3 USC over No. 20 Mississippi 68-66 on Monday in a season-opening doubleheader in France.
Iriafen, an Associated Press preseason All-America selection, finished with 22 points while teammate JuJu Watkins led the way for USC with 27 points.
K.K. Deans scored 19 points for Mississippi. Madison Scott added 14.
As All-American JuJu Watkins embarks on her sophomore season, the Trojans are loaded with two impact graduate transfers and three incoming McDonald’s All-Americans.
With a little under two minutes left, Deans made a jump shot from near halfcourt to put Mississippi ahead 66-64.
The 8,000-capacity Adidas Arena, home to the men’s Paris Basketball team, was about half full.
Takeaways
USC: The Trojans gave the ball away too often and were sloppy in defense at times, leaving opposing shooters wide open from three-point range.
Mississippi: The Rebels just kept coming back, rallying to lead 16-15 at the end of the first quarter and then fighting back from an 11-point halftime deficit. They outscored USC 40-31 in the second half.
Key moment: Having done so much to drag her team back into the game from the floor — including a game-high four three-pointers — Deans fouled out with 10 seconds left. She walked off with her head bowed as USC took advantage.
Key stat: Mississippi was seven of 23 from three-point range, while USC was only one of 11.
Up next: USC takes on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at the Galen Center on Saturday. Mississippi hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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