HARTFORD, Conn. — JuJu Watkins stepped as much as the free-throw line with 19 seconds left in Saturday’s sport.
These are the moments school basketball gamers dream of. The sport was within the stability. A sold-out XL Middle was on the sting of its seat.
After blowing a double-digit lead, No. 7 USC was solely up by one on No. 4 Connecticut.
Watkins took a deep breath and exhaled. She took two dribbles, spun the ball and took a shot.
Swish.
Watkins made the second, too, which in the end sealed the Trojans’ 72-70 win.
Rejoice. Reduction. Redemption.
Watkins threw her arms within the air. She then checked out a piece of the group of practically 16,000 and waved.
“It feels great to get a [win], always,” Watkins stated. “I think it hit a little different knowing the history of last year and how they sent us home.”
Watkins was locked in from the second she stepped foot on the court docket for warm-ups. Even in the course of the nationwide anthem, Watkins stood as nonetheless as a statue, her head down and eyes closed. She didn’t even flinch when the saxophone performed a piercingly excessive be aware towards the tip of the tune.
Watkins made it clear she meant enterprise.
As soon as the sport began, Watkins was doing every thing she might to assist USC get its payback on UConn after the Huskies dismissed the Trojans from the NCAA Match within the Elite Eight not even 9 months in the past.
She led the Trojans’ scoring barrage within the first half with 15 factors on 6-for-10 capturing. She disrupted Connecticut’s passing lanes, dove for free balls and blocked photographs.
Her teammates fed off her fireplace.
In the meantime, the Huskies didn’t have any solutions for Watkins and USC’s sizzling 3-point capturing. They trailed 42-29 on the half.
Bueckers led Connecticut on an inspiring comeback, which despatched the group into delirium each time the Trojans turned the ball over or the Huskies made a basket. Throughout Connecticut’s run, USC discovered itself in an analogous, unsettling scenario because it was just some weeks earlier towards Notre Dame.
“We knew how it felt to be in such a big game and for it to not go our way,” Kiki Iriafen stated. “We didn’t want the same thing to happen today. So we were really cognizant of putting our foot on the gas at halftime.”
Even when issues didn’t go USC’s means, when the photographs didn’t fall or sloppy passes led to turnovers, the Trojans stayed grounded.
“I don’t think we were ever really rattled,” Watkins stated. “We knew what this team was capable of, they were going to go on a run. So it was just a matter of handling that and coming out on top.”
Saturday’s sport between USC and UConn was billed because the “best show on court” with Bueckers and Watkins headlining as the celebs. So it was becoming the sport led to thrilling vogue, with USC barely holding on.
Watkins completed with a game-high 25 factors. She additionally had six rebounds and 5 assists. Iriafen added 16 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
In the meantime, Bueckers scored 15 of her 22 factors within the second half.
Saturday’s sport confirmed Watkins’ progress over the past season. She was environment friendly along with her shot-making. The gravitational pull she has, opened alternatives for her teammates.
“A lot of the things she does is super hard but she makes it look so easy,” Iriafen stated. “We all know she is a super star so playing with her definitely relieves pressure on everybody else.”
USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb known as Saturday a “significant win.” An exhausted Watkins stated it was little question a memorable one.
“Paige is an excellent player,” Watkins stated. “It’s just a testament to when you give women a platform, we’re going to perform and I think that tonight was an excellent game. I was so kind of tired toward the end.”
