JuJu Watkins leads all scorers as USC sets school record for most points in victory
USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb spelled out her game plan, watched her players execute with ruthless precision and then celebrated her 300th career victory at Galen Center on Tuesday, calling the chance to lead the dominant Trojans “the honor of my lifetime.”
JuJu Watkins had 21 points, nine assists and six steals to help No. 3 USC trounce Cal State Northridge 124-39. The 124 points set a program record.
The Trojans (3-0) had six players in double figures, including Kiki Iriafen with 15 points and Kayleigh Heckel with 14 points off the bench. All 13 Trojans who played scored.
Laini Dahlin scored 11 points and Erika Aspajo added 10 for the Matadors (2-1).
Gottlieb’s players waved “300” signs, celebrating with cake and confetti after the win.
She addressed her team in a locker room speech recorded and released by USC.
“I’ve had so many good, dedicated assistant coaches. ... None quite like this [staff]. None quite as selfless, as hardworking, as diverse in thought but really mission driven,” Gottlieb said. “The day I graduated college, I was 21 years old and I got my first job offer to coach basketball. And I’ve been coaching basketball every single day for my professional life.
“There has not been one single day that I haven’t thought at one time, I can’t believe I get paid to do this. I’ve been sad, I’ve been mad, I’ve been happy, I’ve been everything in between, but always, always grateful.”
After eking out a two-point win over then-No. 20 Mississippi in Paris to open the season, the Trojans blew out their second straight opponent, having routed Cal Poly by 55 points last week. Their path gets a lot tougher when No. 6 Notre Dame visits on Nov. 23.
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.
USC essentially won the game from the opening tip. The Trojans outscored the Matadors 30-6 in the first quarter and then gave up just seven points in the second quarter to lead 60-13 at halftime.
“I thought tonight we kept our foot on the gas defensively,” Gottlieb said. “We tried to compete against the details of the game. We pushed the ball, we moved the ball, we shot it well, so I’m happy for our players to see the ball go in. ... It was just a fun night.”
USC freshman guard Kennedy Smith said she connected easily with Gottlieb and her staff because of the team’s emphasis on pressuring opponents.
“I take pride in my defense,” said Smith, who finished with 10 points, five steals, four rebounds and one block. “When I defend, I just don’t want anyone to score on me.”
Gottlieb gave her reserves opportunities as the score grew more lopsided. The bench players responded by scoring 56 points.
“We have a really talented bench and I think our depth is something that separates us from other good teams,” said guard Talia von Oelhoffen, who had 13 points, three steals and one block. “... We have players that would be playing a lot of minutes anywhere else, but they’ve really bought into their role and they really push us in practice. It was really great to see them get in and obviously they played well. It didn’t look like it was our bench out there.”
The Matadors committed 43 turnovers, which led to 63 points for the Trojans. Erica Adams had 10 miscues and Nnenna Orji had seven.
“I think obviously the goal is to be disruptive and that’s something that we talk about a lot,” von Oelhoffen said. “... It allows us to play in transition and get our offense going.”
Northridge is in the middle of a four-game trip, with games at Fresno State (2-1) on Friday and San José State (2-1) on Sunday, under first-time coach Angie Ned.
USC hosts Santa Clara (2-0) on Friday.
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