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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL — 2023-24
USC vs. Ohio State — as it happened
Last updated:
Scoring plays
Win probability
Game flow
Leaders
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Rebounds |
Assists |
Jordan Renville / Daily Trojan
📌 PINNED
Garrett Hah & Thomas Johnson from Las Vegas; photos by Jordan Renville. Stefano Fendrich from Los Angeles
The Trojans look to start their season on a high note as they take on No. 7 Ohio State.
Freshman guard and No.1 recruit Juju Watkins will make her long-anticipated season debut for USC in Las Vegas.
We’ll be reporting live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Refresh to see new updates.
12:58 a.m.
And that’s the game. USC completes the upset over No. 7 Ohio State, 83-74. In her college debut, JuJu Watkins knocks down 32 points. Even with all of the hype, no one could have expected such an impressive start to her collegiate career.
12:55 a.m.
Ohio State is forced to foul and McKenzie Forbes hits one of the free throws to extend USC’s lead to nine points with just over 30 seconds left. Would take a miracle for Ohio State to come back from this one.
12:51 a.m.
And we have a game. The full-court press from Ohio State forces the turnover and Jacy Sheldon capitalizes with the layup, her 27th and 28th points of the game. USC leads 78-72 with less than a minute left.
12:48 a.m.
With two minutes left in the game, USC leads 76-68 as the Trojans have been playing great team basketball this quarter. USC can feel the upset coming.
12:39 a.m.
USC has started to find its rhythm again on offense. Newcomer McKenzie Forbes is making her name known, as she had back-to-back three-point possessions to help give USC a 69-62 lead with 6:35 left in the game. OSU has often been double-teaming Watkins, forcing the ball out of her hands.
12:30 a.m.
Absolute disaster of a third quarter for the Trojans. Despite leading by 18 heading into the second half, Ohio State now leads 58-56. The Buckeyes went on a 14-1 run to close out the quarter.
12:27 a.m.
USC has completely lost its rhythm on offense. Turnover after turnover has allowed the Buckeyes to take back the lead as Jacy Sheldon hits the and-1, 56-55. Four Trojans have three or more personal fouls as well, which is something to look for heading into the fourth quarter.
12:20 a.m.
The Buckeyes have doubled up on the Trojans this quarter, scoring 18 to USC’s 9, to shorten the gap. The Trojans still lead 55-48, but JuJu Watkins is in foul trouble with four fouls, still with 2:33 left in the third quarter.
12:10 a.m.
It’s midway through the third quarter. USC maintaining its lead over Ohio State 53-38. Juju Watkins up to 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. A stellar debut for the highly touted freshman.
11:48 a.m.
It is halftime between No. 7 Ohio State and No. 21 USC and the Trojans have built a commanding 46-28 lead. In the second quarter, USC outscored OSU 31-10 as the Trojans were able to break through the Buckeyes’ full-court press much easier in the second than in the first.
Marshall already has a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Watkins has impressed in her debut, scoring 16 points while adding four rebounds and three assists.
11:41 a.m.
USC slowly building its lead 41-25. Juju Watkins to the free throw line once more. Her third trip in the half.
11:36 a.m.
The Trojans have extended their lead to 30-20, thanks to a 13-point run that forced Ohio State to call a timeout. JuJu Watkins scored six of the points and Rayah Marshall added steals on back-to-back OSU possessions, along with two buckets. USC is turning it up in Vegas.
11:28 a.m.
Rayah Marshall with the steal and layup that gives USC a 22-20 lead over the Buckeyes. Marshall already has eight points and six rebounds, well on track to get her first double-double of the year.
11:16 a.m.
Ohio State’s defense keeping USC in check so far. Three turnovers already for the Trojans who are shooting 33% from the field.
11:12 a.m.
Heading into the first timeout of the game, Ohio State is leading 11-9. The Buckeyes have hit a trio of 3-pointers to power their offense to the lead. Juju Watkins with four early points for the Trojans.
11:01 a.m.
Here is your USC starting lineup:
G JuJu Watkins
G Kayla Padilla
F McKenzie Forbes
F Kaitlyn Davis
C Rayah Marshall
10:52 a.m.
We’re just under 10 minutes away from a ranked women’s basketball matchup between the No. 21 USC Trojans and the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes on college basketball’s opening day. JuJu Watkins and Rayah Marshall look to lead a USC team with high expectations
