This story was updated with quotes at 8:28 p.m. on March 29.
USC women’s basketball knows the stakes the rest of the way. The goal is to win a National Championship and they will have to do it without sophomore phenom JuJu Watkins, who was sidelined for the season with a torn ACL. The Trojans are now one step closer to that goal after a six-point win over the Kansas State Wildcats in the Sweet 16.
“I’m really proud of our team’s fight and togetherness,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “It’s not supposed to be easy and it wasn’t easy.”
Freshman guard Kennedy Smith, who has developed a reputation for her fierce competitiveness, scored the game’s first five points. It didn’t end there for Smith, as she ended up scoring 11 of USC’s 16 first-quarter points.
In the first quarter, the Trojans yet again showed that their defense travels. USC held Kansas State to 4-for-18 shooting from the field and to cap off the first quarter, freshman guard Avery Howell drilled a 3-pointer with three seconds left to give USC a 16-9 lead.
“We’re so deep on this team and everyone plays such a valuable role,” Howell said. “If someone’s not hitting, we have someone else to rely on. It falls back to the preparation and the work we’ve been doing all season.”
Kansas State, however, ended up responding to USC’s fast start. The Wildcats went on a quick 6-0 run to open up the second quarter after 3-point baskets from senior guard Jaelyn Glenn and senior forward Temira Poindexter. The Trojans’ offense was stone cold to begin the second quarter as Kansas State took its first lead of the game at the 7:29 mark, following a layup from senior guard Serena Sundell.
Trailing 18-16, USC needed other players to step up — that is exactly what happened. After Howell made another 3-pointer, sophomore guard Malia Samuels banked in her own to give USC a 22-19 lead with 6:48 left in the quarter. The rest of the second quarter was back and forth on both ends as the Wildcats led the Trojans 30-28 at halftime.
“We play together and have a sense of togetherness,” Smith said. “We emphasized that coming into the summer. Everyone on this team has value and brings something to the table.”
Smith was the only Trojan who scored in double figures, with 11 points in the opening two quarters. Graduate forward Kiki Iriafen was unable to get into any sort of offensive groove. Following her 36-point explosion against Mississippi State, Iriafen made just one of seven shot attempts and finished with two first-half points.
Trailing by two, the Trojans had a strong start to begin the third quarter. Senior forward Rayah Marshall knocked down mid-range jumpers on USC’s first two offensive possessions. Like the first half, the Trojans did everything they could to make sure the Wildcats did not put the game out of reach.
“We emphasize having composure, especially when the game’s back and forth against a really good team,” Howell said. “I think it goes to falling back on our habits and staying level-headed.”
There looked like there may have been a point when that was about to happen as Glenn made a 3-pointer with 5:10 remaining in the quarter to give Kansas State a five-point lead. At the time, it was the Wildcats’ largest lead of the game. However, the Trojans responded with a 3-pointer of their own from Howell with just over five minutes left in the quarter to make the score 39-37.
USC’s finish to the third quarter demonstrated the Trojans’ depth. Howell’s 3-point shot to cut the lead to two was the start of a 12-0 run that ended with Smith scoring a layup off a steal to give the Trojans a 46-39 lead with 2:22 remaining in the quarter. The Trojans could not put the Wildcats away though, as USC entered the final quarter with a small 48-45 lead.
The Trojans’ 3-point shooting, and Howell’s in particular, was lethal all game long and that was the same to begin the fourth quarter. Howell nailed her fourth make of the game from distance to put the Trojans up 51-47 with 9:07 remaining. This was the start of a highly competitive quarter between the two teams.
“I never had any doubt about this team,” Smith said. “Everyone still shares a common goal of winning a National Championship and everyone came out and played with great fight from beginning to end.”
Just inside the seven-minute mark of the quarter, Marshall made two layups that kept USC’s lead at 55-51 with 6:16 remaining. From there, it was a one-possession game the rest of the way, but Smith came up with perhaps the play of the season with 1:38 remaining. Smith notched her third steal of the game and nearly turned it into a layup, but was fouled and converted one of two free throws.
From there, the Wildcats began to unravel as they committed two fouls that gave USC an opportunity to ice the game at the free-throw line. With a 65-61 lead, the Trojans were able to get the stops they needed on defense and convert from the charity stripe to escape with a win.
“I think any Sweet 16 win to get into the Elite Eight is a big deal,” Gottlieb said. “These are really competitive games and I’m proud of this game and the way we won it.”
In the biggest game of the year, it was USC’s freshmen stars who stole the show. Howell, Smith and guard Kayleigh Heckel combined for 45 points, 14 rebounds and nine steals. Marshall also added 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. The Trojans were able to overcome one Iriafen’s worst games of the season as she finished with just seven points on 3-for-13 shooting from the field.
“What can I say about our freshman class? They’re winning above everything else,” Gottlieb said. “I told them before the game that they are incredibly tough and that they are winners. They earned every bit of it.”
The Trojans’ biggest test of the season awaits as USC will face redshirt senior guard Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies Monday night at 6 p.m. for the right to advance to the Final Four.