Freshman guard JuJu Watkins and junior center Rayah Marshall notched 18 points apiece in a home-opening win for the No. 21 USC women’s basketball team against Florida Gulf Coast Friday at the Galen Center in the first ever meeting between the two.
USC came looking to defend its home after a strong season-opening win against No. 7 Ohio State on Monday. Against the Buckeyes, Watkins had 32 points and Marshall added 18 points and had 17 rebounds to lead the Trojans to a win.
The Trojans struggled to generate offense early against the Eagles and were down 9-0 before Marshall scored USC’s first points of the game nearly halfway through the first quarter. But USC went on a 14-4 run to end the quarter, and a recalled Eagles basket led to a 14-11 Trojan lead heading into the second quarter.
“They established themselves after that,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I thought Rayah really got us going at that point because she scored a couple of buckets inside, and from there we started getting stops.”
USC continued its dominance in the second quarter, limiting FGCU to eight points on 20% shooting from the floor. USC had 16 points off of 12 Eagles turnovers in the first half, and FGCU didn’t attempt a single free throw. The Trojans led 33-19 at the half.
It was all USC in the second half thanks to Marshall and Watkins, and the Trojans led 58-38 after three. USC shot 59% from the field in the third and outrebounded FGCU for the first time in a quarter all game.
“I wish you had the chance to play with JuJu,” Marshall said about her chemistry with Watkins. “It’s actually really nice to play with a high-IQ, elite-caliber player.”
Watkins and Marshall each contributed two blocks as well. Graduate forward McKenzie Forbes had a team-high six assists and added two steals. Redshirt sophomore guard Taylor Bigby contributed nine points and four rebounds, while Watkins and graduate forward Kaitlyn Davis led the team with seven rebounds each.
“[There are] definitely a lot of emotions, just anticipating this moment for so long,” Watkins said of her Galen Center debut. “Being in Galen for the first time, wearing SC across my chest, [I’m] just very grateful and always thinking of what got me here.”
Friday’s win was also a celebration for Trojan fans, as part of the night was dedicated to honoring USC’s 1983 and 1984 NCAA Championship teams. 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the first women’s basketball title in USC history, and the back-to-back titles in 1983 and 1984 symbolize an iconic era in the program’s history. Cheryl Miller, Pam and Paula McGee, and former head coach Linda Sharp were honored among others during the championship celebration.
“It was like a dream,” Marshall said. “We had the honor of actually hearing from some of those players before the game, and they just gave us that motivation, a little insight on what it’s like to wear this SC jersey. We were fortunate enough to go out there and get a win out in front of them. It was a really fun feeling.”
The Trojans haven’t returned to the championship game since 1986, but the team is excited for what the upcoming season might bring.
“There’s a unique feel with this team that is very rare,” Gottlieb said. “I think when you have that, anything is possible.”
USC returns to the Galen Center on Monday to take on Le Moyne at 5:30 p.m.