Blessed with single coverage, graduate forward Kiki Iriafen was near perfect Thursday night at Galen Center, propelling USC above Minnesota 82-69. Iriafen scored 23 points, shooting 100% from three and 9-11 from the field, and captured a bounty of 11 boards.

“We try and get her as many looks in transition as we can because she’s so fast … We know that if we get a one on one, she can score on anyone,” said Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb in a post-game press conference. “We talked about her making a ton of threes in her workouts, and it’s great to see that come to fruition tonight.”

The Golden Gophers’ (18-4, 6-4 Big Ten) shooting percentage nearly matched No. 4 USC’s (19-1, 9-0) at 41% and 45% respectively. The difference maker was the mass of triples USC was able to take and make. The Trojans shot 11-27 or 40.7% from behind the arc, marking their second consecutive game with double-digit 3-pointers and at least double their opponents’ 3-point attempts. 

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“[Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins], Kiki, [senior center Rayah Marshall] and all of them draw a lot of attention,” said freshman guard Avery Howell. “Anyone on our team can get a bucket if they want to, so I feel like [making 3-pointers] is just being a pressure release.”

Six different USC players converted beyond-the-arc shots, whereas junior forward Mallory Heyer was the only Golden Gopher to make a triple. 

Even amid offensive production rising all over the floor, Watkins began the game with the worst statistical half of her collegiate career with 2 points, shooting 0-10 from the field. Coincidentally the same night, Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes’ 53 points against Florida surpassed Watkins’ record for most points in a game by a freshman.

“I try to do what I can for any of [the players] in those moments,” Gottlieb said. ”To show up as my best self for JuJu is to ask her, ‘What are you seeing? This is what I see as the read. What do you see as the read?’ And, just let her work through it. I have a lot of trust in her IQ of the game, and her feel for herself and with her teammates.”

Regardless of her frustrating first half, it was Watkins who ultimately put the game out of the Golden Gophers’ reach. Inside the final eight minutes, Minnesota trimmed the Trojans’ lead to seven points, and Watkins responded with a 7-0 run of her own.

“I believe that if [Watkins] misses five in a row, [then] the next five are going to go in,” Gottlieb said. “I don’t think any of us were surprised that the shots went down in the second half.”

USC also played without Marshall’s veteran presence. The Trojans’ anchor below the rim was ruled inactive due to a day-to-day injury.

“We didn’t know that [Marshall] wasn’t going to play until this morning,” Gottlieb said. “Other people stepped up, finding different ways to win. Our freshmen who got significant minutes were really, really good, and they keep getting better.”

Marshall’s absence prompted senior center Clarice Akunwafo’s first start of the season. Through 21 minutes, Akunwafo held her own, accruing six rebounds and a block.

“[Akunwafo] stepped up this game and played really good minutes for us,” said freshman guard Kennedy Smith. “[She was] really dominant around the rim, messing [Minnesota] up in the first half.”

The Trojans have a quick turnaround as they take on Iowa (14-7, 4-6) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.