March Madness: JuJu Watkins scores 22 and top-seeded USC routs UNCG 71-25 in 1st round
March Madness: JuJu Watkins scores 22 and top-seeded USC routs UNCG 71-25 in 1st round
Southern California center Rayah Marshall, left, and guard Kennedy Smith celebrate during the first half of a game against UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) drives to the basket against UNC Greensboro guard Jaila Lee and forward Khalis Cain (15) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) and UNC Greensboro guard Jayde Gamble (1) fight for a loose ball as Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) watches during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) drives against UNC Greensboro guard Nya Smith (22) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) dribbles against UNC Greensboro guard Jaila Lee (4) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots against UNC Greensboro guard Nya Smith, center, and forward Yacine N’Diaye, right, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
UNC Greensboro forward Yacine N’Diaye (5) and Southern California center Clarice Akunwafo (34) fight for the ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
UNC Greensboro guard Nia Howard, left, Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) and UNC Greensboro forward Yacine N’Diaye, right, fight for the ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California center Rayah Marshall, left, and guard Kennedy Smith celebrate during the first half of a game against UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California center Rayah Marshall, left, and guard Kennedy Smith celebrate during the first half of a game against UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) drives to the basket against UNC Greensboro guard Jaila Lee and forward Khalis Cain (15) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) drives to the basket against UNC Greensboro guard Jaila Lee and forward Khalis Cain (15) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) and UNC Greensboro guard Jayde Gamble (1) fight for a loose ball as Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) watches during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) and UNC Greensboro guard Jayde Gamble (1) fight for a loose ball as Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) watches during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) drives against UNC Greensboro guard Nya Smith (22) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) drives against UNC Greensboro guard Nya Smith (22) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) dribbles against UNC Greensboro guard Jaila Lee (4) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) dribbles against UNC Greensboro guard Jaila Lee (4) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots against UNC Greensboro guard Nya Smith, center, and forward Yacine N’Diaye, right, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots against UNC Greensboro guard Nya Smith, center, and forward Yacine N’Diaye, right, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
UNC Greensboro forward Yacine N’Diaye (5) and Southern California center Clarice Akunwafo (34) fight for the ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
UNC Greensboro forward Yacine N’Diaye (5) and Southern California center Clarice Akunwafo (34) fight for the ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
UNC Greensboro guard Nia Howard, left, Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) and UNC Greensboro forward Yacine N’Diaye, right, fight for the ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
UNC Greensboro guard Nia Howard, left, Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) and UNC Greensboro forward Yacine N’Diaye, right, fight for the ball during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — JuJu Watkins scored 22 points and top-seeded Southern California led all the way in routing 16th-seeded UNC Greensboro 71-25 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
The Trojans (29-3) advanced to the second round to play either eighth-seeded California or ninth-seeded Mississippi State on Monday at Galen Center.
“Glad to get the first one out of the way,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “We were a little bit rusty on offense.”
Watkins appeared to hurt her left hand early in the second quarter, occasionally shaking out her fingers. Then in the third, the star sophomore came up limping on her left leg and winced. She hit a 3-pointer and sat for the final 3:39 before returning briefly in the fourth.
“It’s the end of the season, body is a little banged up,” Watkins said. “On to the next. Nobody cares. I’m all good.”
The Spartans came out confidently, holding the Trojans to 12 points in the first quarter after missing their first five shots and trailing 8-0.
“We knew we had to punch them as hard as we could,” guard Jayde Gamble said.
UNCG closed within two early in the second quarter before USC blew the game open. The Trojans outscored the Spartans 16-3 while limiting them to three free throws.
The Trojans’ pressure defense forced eight turnovers and the Spartans were 0 of 11 from the field and 0 of 5 from 3-point range. USC led 28-11 at halftime.
“Our defense is something we really take pride in, so when things aren’t going our way on one side of the floor we really try to make it up,” said Watkins, who played under 30 minutes for the first time in 1 1/2 months.
Six different players scored in USC’s 16-0 run in the second, led by Watkins with six.
Kiki Iriafen added 13 points and 13 rebounds for USC, which had 17 steals, led by seven from Rayah Marshall.
Freshman Nya Smith led the Spartans with seven points and Khalis Cain had six. Gamble, who averages a team-high 11.8 points, had three points and seven of her team’s 23 turnovers. The senior was in tears afterward.
“What we are really good at is defense,” Spartans coach Trina Patterson said. “Thought we accomplished that today. Offensively, we didn’t hit the mark.”
The Spartans (25-7) were making just their second-ever appearance in March Madness and first in 27 years. They were the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament champion.
Key moment
The Trojans emptied their bench in the fourth, giving their starters critical rest. Reserve Aaliyah Gayles, who was shot multiple times at a house party in Las Vegas three years ago, scored a basket and had a rebound in 5 1/2 minutes of action.
Key stat
UNCG set a slew of season lows, including points, field goals made (7 of 54), field goal percentage (13) and 3-point percentage (22).
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