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USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb crossed her arms as she watched Nebraska storm ahead by five points in the second quarter. The Trojans’ New Year’s Day matinee at Galen Center wasn’t going according to plan.
She had watched the Cornhuskers cause No. 1 UCLA early fits Sunday before the Bruins swiftly won by 37 points. Now Gottlieb’s team was trying to withstand similar pressure.
Luckily for her, No. 4 USC responded. After using a 14-4 run to close the first half and take the lead, USC took control in the second half, riding a 26-point performance from sophomore star JuJu Watkins to defeat Nebraska 75-55 on Wednesday.
Kiki Iriafen added 14 points, extending her double-digit scoring streak to all 14 games this season. Watkins scored nine points in the third quarter, extending USC’s lead to 59-45.
Some of the Trojans’ best defensive runs came when senior center Clarice Akunwafo and sophomore guard Malia Samuels were on the floor. The bench duo contributed to holding the Cornhuskers (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten) to four points over the final 4:26 of the first quarter and played vital minutes as USC (13-1, 3-0) extended its lead in the third quarter and outscored Nebraska by nine.
Senior forward/center Rayah Marshall and Iriafen held All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski to three-for-11 shooting and seven points, including just two in the first half.
Guard Logan Nissley led Nebraska with 14 points.
USC will face Rutgers and Maryland next on its first multigame conference trip of the season.
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