With 32 Points, 16 Rebounds, 6 Assists and 5 Steals, JuJu Watkins Leads No. 3 USC Past Utah State 118-40

Photo: USC Athletics. JuJu Watkins, official roster photo. Card design: The Dyme.

FINAL, Galen Center, Los Angeles: No. 3 USC 118, Utah State 40.

JuJu Watkins had 32 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and five steals in 27 minutes. She shot 10 of 19 from the field, 4 of 7 on threes and 8 of 9 at the line. She also had three turnovers and one block. Saniyah Hall added 20 points, and six Trojans scored in double figures: Watkins 32, Hall 20, Sara Okeke 12, Jazzy Davidson 12, Sitaya Fagan 11 and Laura Williams 10.

How it got this lopsided

By our count, the 78-point margin is a 52-point edge on twos (78-26). USC also held an 18-point edge on threes (27-9) and an eight-point edge at the line (13-5).

USC led 36-11 after the first quarter, when Watkins hit a buzzer-beating 15-foot pull-up jumper, according to the AP. The Trojans were up 55-22 at halftime, when Watkins had 16 points and nine rebounds, and they outscored Utah State in every quarter (36-11, 19-11, 34-10, 29-8).

USC shot 48 of 80 (60 percent), including 9 of 24 on threes, and made 13 of 19 free throws. Utah State shot 16 of 57 (28 percent) and 3 of 15 from deep. The Trojans had 29 assists to 9 for the Aggies and committed 7 turnovers to Utah State's 18. Points off turnovers were 27-4, the paint was 72-22 and the fast break was 27-2. USC also outrebounded Utah State 56-19 with 23 offensive rebounds. Those edges describe the game's shape. They are not the margin components above.

Utah State

Kylani Rookstool led Utah State with 12 points and Sami Mancini had 10 on 5-of-16 shooting. No other Aggie scored more than six. Utah State falls to 1-2.

What it means

The AP reported that Watkins got a standing ovation as she left the game with 2:34 left. She missed 20 months with a torn ACL, and in two games since returning she has 53 points: 21 in the 100-68 season-opening win over UNLV and 32 here, per the AP. USC is 2-0 and hosts College of Charleston on Tuesday. Utah State hosts Idaho State on Wednesday.

Sources

• ESPN box score, game 401927106. Final USC 118, Utah State 40. USC listed No. 3. Quarters USC 36-19-34-29, Utah State 11-11-10-8. Attendance 7,807. USC 48-80 FG, 9-24 3PT, 13-19 FT, 56 reb (23 off), 29 ast, 7 TO, 8 stl, 6 blk, 27 pts off TO, 27 fast break, 72 paint. Utah State 16-57 FG, 3-15 3PT, 5-7 FT, 19 reb (7 off), 9 ast, 18 TO, 4 pts off TO, 2 fast break, 22 paint. Watkins 32 pts, 10-19 FG, 4-7 3PT, 8-9 FT, 16 reb, 6 ast, 5 stl, 1 blk, 3 TO, 27 min. Hall 20, 9-16 FG. Okeke 12, Davidson 12, Fagan 11, Williams 10. Rookstool 12. Mancini 10, 5-16 FG.
• Associated Press via ESPN recap. AP wire hosted on ESPN (not treated as a separate independent outlet). Standing ovation with 2:34 left. Missed 20 months with a torn ACL. 53 points in two games including 21 vs UNLV. Buzzer-beating jumper ended first quarter at 36-11. Watkins 16 and nine at half. Next: USC hosts College of Charleston Tuesday, Utah State hosts Idaho State Wednesday.
• Utah State Athletics schedule. Actually opened. Lists result vs #3 USC as L, Utah State 40, USC 118 (third distinct site).
• USC Athletics schedule. Lists W, 118-40, Nov 8, vs Utah State at Galen Center. Prior W 100-68 at Las Vegas Nov 2. Next vs College of Charleston at Galen Center.
• Photo: USC Athletics official roster photo of JuJu Watkins, used inside the Dyme card.