Iriafen's 25 points send No. 2 Southern Cal past Michigan 82-70, into Big Ten title game

Iriafen’s 25 points send No. 2 Southern Cal past Michigan 82-70, into Big Ten title game

1 of 15 |

Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) drives on Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

2 of 15 |

Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) and Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs (10) battle for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

3 of 15 |

Michigan guard Syla Swords (12) drives on Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

4 of 15 |

Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) shoots on Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

5 of 15 |

Michigan guard Syla Swords (12) drives on Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

6 of 15 |

Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) drives on Michigan guard Syla Swords (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

7 of 15 |

Michigan guard Olivia Olson (1) and Syla Swords (12) pressure Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

8 of 15 |

Southern California guard Malia Samuels (10) reacts to making her shot and being fouled by Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

9 of 15 |

Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder (11) protects the ball from Southern California guard Malia Samuels (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

10 of 15 |

Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder (11) shoots on Southern California center Rayah Marshall (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

11 of 15 |

Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) fouls Michigan guard Syla Swords (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

12 of 15 |

Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots on Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

13 of 15 |

Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) shoots on Michigan guard Olivia Olson (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

14 of 15 |

Michigan guard Syla Swords (12) celebrates her three-point shot at the end of the first quarter against Southern California during an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

15 of 15 |

Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder (11) drives on Southern California center Rayah Marshall (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

By MICHAEL MAROT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kiki Iriafen scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half Saturday, JuJu Watkins added 20 points and each pulled down 11 rebounds to send No. 2 Southern California past fifth-seeded Michigan 82-70 and into the Big Ten championship game.

The Trojans (28-2) will face No. 4 UCLA, a 75-46 winner over No. 13 Ohio State, on Sunday. USC won the league’s regular season by sweeping the two-game series against the Bruins.

USC won its ninth straight despite Watkins, the league’s player of the year, having an off night. Iriafen made 10 of 19 shots.

Syla Swords finished with 26 points and Olivia Olson added 13 points and nine rebounds to lead the Wolverines (22-10).

USC trailed 31-29 at halftime but turned the game when Iriafen scored eight straight points late in the third quarter to give the Trojans a 50-48 lead. They closed it out with a 16-2 run midway through the fourth.

Takeaways

Michigan: The Wolverines came into the semis with three straight wins and played even better than advertised against one of the nation’s top teams. But they ran out of gas, playing their third game in three days.

USC: Again, the Trojans were sloppy. They struggled with taking care of the ball, shot poorly and didn’t take control until late. Still, though, they managed to do just enough.

Not PARSE.LY: Kiki Iriafen

Duke's Ashlon Jackson (3) handles the ball as Notre Dame's Liza Karlen (32) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

No. 11 Duke upsets No. 6 Notre Dame to reach first ACC title game in 8 years

Indiana guard Lexus Bargesser (1) defends Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Watkins scores 31 to lead No. 2 USC past Indiana 84-79 and into the Big Ten Tournament semifinals

No. 4 USC wins Big Ten regular-season title with 80-67 win over rival No. 2 UCLA

Key moment

Watkins’ midrange leaner with 6:14 to play broke a 60-60 tie. Malia Samuels then completed a three-point play.

Key stat

The Trojans had a 17-12 scoring edge in second-chance points.

Up next

Michigan will find out next week where it’s headed and who it plays in the NCAA Tournament.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball