No. 4 USC dominates the second half to beat No. 23 Michigan78-58

USC Trojans #12 JuJu Watkins (G) is pulling up for a jump shot. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA -The USC Trojans (12-1, 2-0 Big 10) women's basketball team, ranked fourth, defeated the Michigan Wolverines (10-3, 1-1 Big 10), ranked twenty-third, 78-58. JuJu Watkins was very impressive as she helped the Women of Troy win with a game-high 31 points.

In addition to her 31 points against the Wolverines, Watkins recorded a game-high seven assists and five rebounds. Watkins had just one turnover in 37 minutes, three steals, and three blocked shots.

"It's just a matter of playing smart and patient and controlled," Watkins said. "I think when I talked with pro players, Damar and Kyrie, they all emphasized playing smart. And I think for Damar, it's like knowing when to attack and knowing how to set the defense up so they think you're trying to figure things out, but then you already figured it out. So, it's just having that patience and really trusting the team because we practice for moments like this. So, it's just a matter of reading the floor for me and trying to be as efficient as I can."

Kiki Iriafen was second in scoring for the Trojans with 18 points, and Rayah Marshall with 15 points.

USC led at the end of the first quarter 17-11. Michigan was hanging close and trailed at halftime 32-27 with a three-pointer by Jordan Cobbs.

With 8:52 left in the third quarter, the Wolverines got their first lead, 35-34, with a jump shot by Olivia Olson. USC would close out the third quarter with a ten-point lead, 57-47, with two free throws by Watkins.

In the fourth quarter, the Trojans were up by twenty-two points, 72-49, with a layup by Iriafen, and ended the game up by twenty points, 78-58.

The Trojans picked it up in the closing minutes for a significant in-conference victory, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb told the reporters following the win over Michigan.

"I think Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico has done a great job with her young team. They truly are a top-25 team. Some of the early things we did didn't not satisfy us.

Hobbs finished the game with 19 points, Gruta Kampschroedwn with 14 points, and Olson with 11.