JuJu Watkins had 26 points and five assists, Kiki Iriafen added 18 points and seven rebounds as then No. 5 Southern California (10-1) defeated Elon (4-5) on Sunday afternoon for the Trojans’ sixth win in a row.
Sunday’s game was delayed by 30 minutes due to a temporary power outage in the area. Once the lights were back, it was game time for the Trojans.
Prior to tip off, the Trojans recognized senior center Rayah Marshall for achieving 1,000 career points earlier this season.
Watkins also recorded five rebounds and was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. She led USC from the stripe as the Trojans combined for 16-for-20.
Graduate forward Kiki Iriafen was 8-for-12 from the floor and Marshall had 14 rebounds to help the Trojans control the boards 50-30.
USC got the ball rolling when graduate guard Talia von Oelhoffen dropped a three-pointer sparking a scoring surge for the Trojans, who built a 15-4 run with three minutes left in the first quarter. 12 of USC’s first quarter points came from seven Elon turnovers. The Trojans had limited the Lady Phoenix to six points by the end of the frame.
Despite getting slammed on the boards, Elon junior center Hannah Dereje finished with a team-high 10 points and seven rebounds. Redshirt sophomore guard Raven Preston added seven points and freshman guard Jayda Angel had five points.
USC held the Phoenix scoreless until Angel made a pull-up jumper with 49 seconds left in the quarter, as Elon trailed 69-23 heading into the final 10 minutes. Elon shot 11-for-52 (21.2 %) in the paint and 2-for-13 (15.4 %) from the three point line. The Lady Phoenix were 6-for-7 (85.7 %) at the charity stripe.
USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb talked postgame about the Trojans’ transition game being the best of the season.
“We understood that the guards turning up the pressure on defense was gonna lead to some easy offense,” Gottlieb said.
USC was still without freshman guard Kennedy Smith, so freshman guard Kayleigh Heckel made her second career start. Heckel lit up in the second half after making three steals in one minute resulting in six points for the Trojans. She finished with 14 points, four assists and four steals.
Heckel credited the preparation of pressing full-court in practice; she was able to apply the same pressures in Sunday’s game.
“I think little plays like that, a run-out layup just to be easy to get… especially against great teams that can be in momentum shift, " Heckel said. “Especially when it’s hard to execute against great defenses… Getting as many opportunities like that as possible can be the difference in a game,” Heckel said.
USC came ready to protect around the rim, notching five blocks and 34 defensive rebounds while forcing 25 Elon turnovers. Gottlieb noted the importance of defensive aggression and transition offense, an improvement since the team’s matchup against Notre Dame.
“Everyone talks about playing together on the offensive end, but they’re really understanding… When you have a shot blocker, we’re protected, like [Marshall] back there, or [senior center Clarice Akunwafo], [so] that we can get aggressive in certain areas,” Gottlieb said.
In the final three minutes of the game, the Galen Center erupted into cheers after redshirt sophomore guard Aaliyah Gayles knocked down a corner three to extend the Trojans’ lead to 86-27.
USC closed the game on an 11-3 run to seal an 88-30 win over Elon. The Trojans held the Lady Phoenix to 30 points, a program record-low scoring total by any USC women’s basketball opponent. USC scored its 10th win of the season and is now among the only six teams in the Big Ten with 10 or more wins.
Looking ahead, the Trojans will travel to Storrs to face No. 4 UConn.
“We know it’s coming,” Gottlieb said. “I think just building that confidence and that ball pressure and seeing what we’re capable of… Obviously we’re gonna start facing All-American veteran guards. But just to build that confidence and see how especially Malia and Kayleigh are pressuring, it makes everyone else’s job easier.”
USC plays at Connecticut on December 21 to wrap up their non-conference slate. The Trojans return to conference play in their Big Ten home premiere on December 29 versus Michigan at the Galen Center.