Los Angeles, CA- The prime-seeded USC Trojans triumphed above the Kansas Jayhawks with a decisive 73-55 victory on Monday evening, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the females’s NCAA Tournament.
JuJu Watkins led the cost for USC with a extraordinary 28 details, 11 rebounds, and five assists, showcasing her dominance on the court docket. McKenzie Forbes supported Watkins’ stellar performance with a profession-significant six 3-tips, contributing 20 details to the Trojans’ victory.
USC’s get sets up a hugely expected matchup from fifth-seeded Baylor in the Portland Area 3 in Oregon on Saturday. This development marks a sizeable accomplishment for USC, which last arrived at the Elite 8 in 1994, echoing the legacy of their back again-to-back again national championships in the early 1980s.
Kansas freshman S’Mya Nichols led her team with 22 factors, whilst Taiyanna Jackson added 10 factors and 18 rebounds. Inspite of their efforts, Kansas fell to -6 all-time when struggling with a No. 1 seed in the tournament.
A important minute in the game was USC’s 17-2 run that spanned the finish of the third and begin of the fourth quarter, correctly sealing their victory. Watkins and Kayla Padilla were instrumental all through this operate, with Watkins scoring nine details and Padilla hitting a critical 3-pointer to extend USC’s guide.
Reflecting on the match, JuJu Watkins shared, “It’s the people today. I actually wouldn’t want to be anyplace else,” highlighting the staff spirit that propelled USC to victory.
On the other aspect, S’Mya Nichols remarked on Kansas’s perseverance, stating, “It’s what we have to do as a team to get again in this article and progress from right here,” showcasing the group’s resolve and ahead-on the lookout point of view.
USC’s subsequent problem is Baylor, a group with a 26-7 record, in what guarantees to be a powerful Sweet 16 matchup. With the Trojans aiming to continue their remarkable operate and the Jayhawks reflecting on their journey, equally groups are concentrated on the future, drawing lessons from this pivotal video game.