On March 8, 2025, the USC Trojans women's basketball team triumphed over the Michigan Wolverines 82-70 during the Big Ten Tournament semifinal, marked by impressive performances from the Trojans' stars JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen. This victory not only advances USC to the championship game but showcases the depth of talent within their roster.
Watkins and Iriafen combined for 45 of USC's points, with Iriafen leading the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, closely followed by Watkins with 20 points and the same number of rebounds. This win against Michigan, who has shown resilience and skill throughout the season, highlights USC's strength as they head to the finals.
From the outset of the match, the Wolverines seemed poised to challenge the No. 1 seeded Trojans. Michigan guard Syla Swords made her presence felt early, scoring 10 points out of the team's initial 15, helping the Wolverines to a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. This momentum came after Michigan had defeated Maryland 26 points before facing USC, raising expectations for their performance.
Much to their disappointment, the Trojans found themselves trailing at halftime—this was only the second time all season they had been behind at this juncture. The first half was particularly tricky for USC's star, JuJu Watkins. Despite her reputation, she struggled significantly early on, only managing four points on 2-of-9 shooting and turning the ball over three times. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb later remarked, "With JuJu and Kiki in particularly, it’s not just their talent... they just have a fierce, kind of competitive will about them."
The second half saw the dynamic change as Kiki Iriafen took charge, netting 12 points and contributing to USC's pivotal 11-2 run, which annexed the lead 50-48 late in the third quarter.
Despite this resurgence, Michigan would not back down. The Wolverines responded favorably, tying the game several times throughout the final period. A notable performance by Swords allowed Michigan to keep pace, finishing the game with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, including going perfect from the free-throw line (9-for-9).
Yet, it was during the fourth quarter when USC truly asserted itself. The Trojans executed a well-orchestrated 14-0 run within less than three minutes, which was decisive and finalized their foothold on the game. Howell’s contribution of eight points was key to closing out the match smoothly, as she found ways to score even with defenses focusing heavily on their superstar Watkins.
The closing moments of the game brought tension on the court; Swords and Watkins clashed for a rebound, leading to both players hitting the floor. Observers noted the heated exchange but cooler heads prevailed, illustrating the competitive spirit present within both teams. USC’s Avery Howell remarked on her rapport with Swords, saying, "Obviously I’m on the Canadian national team with Syla, so I’ve known her for quite some time."
This victory signifies more than just another win for USC; it confirms their status as contenders, with expectations high as they now face the winner of the upcoming UCLA versus Ohio State match in the Big Ten Championship game. Moving forward, the spotlight will remain on standout players like Watkins and Iriafen, alongside the building rivalry between USC and Michigan, which is bound to develop over their upcoming seasons.
For the Wolverines, there remains hope as they gear up for the NCAA Tournament, projected by ESPN as a 7 seed, with Her Hoop Stats bumping them to 6 seed, indicating their competitive streak this season will likely continue as they push for success.
Overall, the contest showcased not just skilled individual performances but underscored the spirit of competition inherent to college basketball, setting the stage for what promises to be thrilling postseason action.