A combined 10 UNLV Lady Rebels scored 68 points. Three USC Trojans scored 66, in a 100-68 blowout to open the season at the Naismith Hall of Fame Series Showcase in Las Vegas.
Guards JuJu Watkins, Jazzy Davidson and Saniyah Hall, all former No.1 recruits, shared the court for the first time Monday, combining for 66 points.
This game was a full-circle moment for senior Watkins, who returned to the court where she made her collegiate debut, and for her first regular-season game since injuring her ACL in 2025. In her official return, she had 21 points while playing 25 minutes, although she is still on a minutes restriction.
Watkins’ return was highly anticipated after not playing for over a year.
“Imagine not playing in a game for 500 and 80-something days when you love the game like she does,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
Sophomore Davidson scored 23 points in what was an almost perfect offensive performance, shooting 10-for-11 from the field. Freshman Hall added 22 points of her own.
Sloppy plays plagued the USC offense early, but Davidson’s layup flipped the momentum, and they went on a 14-4 run to close out the half.
UNLV struggled both offensively and defensively throughout the game. Their 2025 leading scorer, junior forward Meadow Roland picked up two personal fouls early, which put them in a bind. At the end of the first, the Lady Rebels shot a total of 38.5% from the field.
The scoring was balanced offensively for the Trojans, as they continued to attack the rim and draw fouls from UNLV. UNLV continued to turn the ball over, ending with 24 to USC’s 16, allowing the Trojans to capitalize for 38 points.
“I thought we did some really good things defensively. Particularly in the first and third quarters, so we know we’re capable,” Gottlieb said.
Freshman forward Sitaya Fagan came alive in the second, scoring four points to support her teammates.
The third quarter was the same for UNLV, as they came up short on their first three shots.
Hall continued her dominant scoring night, draining a fadeaway jumper and a layup right out of the gate. USC’s scrambling defense led to a steal and score by junior guard Ryann Bennett, extending the Trojans’ lead with three minutes to go.
The offense stayed energized even as Watkins’ time was cut short by the large third-quarter lead.
The Trojans will return back to Galen Center next Sunday against Utah State, with tipoff set for 5 p.m. PST.
Edited by Sammie Vassallo, Adriana Brady, and Bennett M. Weinschenk