Indianapolis, IN – In their first-ever Big Ten Tournament appearance, the USC Trojans took a major step toward championship glory, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 84-79 in a thrilling quarterfinal matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Hoosiers came out strong, energizing the crowd with early baskets, but the Trojans quickly regained control after a strategic timeout late in the first quarter. USC’s star guard JuJu Watkins set the tone, scoring effortlessly and dominating defensively, while forward Kiki Iriafen provided a powerful double-double performance.
The dynamic duo led USC, who took the first-quarter lead and never looked back, ultimately securing the win to kick off their quest for a Big Ten title in their inaugural season.
Basketball in March—there’s nothing quite like it! The intensity, the passion, the stakes. As the first half unfolded in this highly anticipated Big Ten Tournament matchup, the Lady Trojans controlled the opening of the game, leading as they headed into the second quarter. But the Lady Hoosiers weren’t backing down. Indiana made several runs, keeping USC on their toes with balanced scoring contributions from Sydney Parrish, Yarden Garzon, and Chloe Moore-McNeil.
However, it was USC’s star guard, JuJu Watkins, who stole the spotlight, leading all scorers with 16 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Both teams dominated the paint, with USC finishing 7-of-11 inside in the first half, while Indiana worked the inside game as well with 14 points. The Trojans’ defense was active, forcing turnovers and keeping the Hoosiers at bay.
With both teams battling fiercely, it was clear this game was shaping up to go down to the wire. This rematch—following USC’s thrilling 73-66 victory over Indiana back in mid-January, where they overcame an 11-point deficit—was bound to deliver another heart-pounding showdown.
Tied up with just 8 minutes remaining, this game was everything we expected it to be—a back-and-forth battle that had fans on the edge of their seats. Indiana’s defense, relentless since the second quarter, kept the momentum on their side, but when it came time to make a play, JuJu Watkins delivered. Her transition game is a thing of beauty—coast to coast, weaving through defenders like they were standing still. A foul and a bucket later, JuJu was back at the line with 3:10 left, putting the Lady Trojans up 53-48.
The dynamic duo of JuJu and Kiki Iriafen was a combo the Hoosiers just couldn’t seem to solve. But Shay Ciezki and Yarden Garzon weren’t about to let the game slip away. Ciezki’s big 8 points in the quarter and Garzon’s clutch shots—especially a huge 3-pointer just before the buzzer—kept the Hoosiers alive. Heading into the final stretch, USC led 59-57. This was March basketball at its finest—intense, high-stakes, and full of drama.
“This is March basketball,” said USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “Both of those teams are great teams, and we’re going to have to come and win every possession. I’ve told the team a number of times, we get no bonus points for being the regular season champs. We get no bonus points for what we did yesterday, but we can derive from the success we’ve had what it is that makes us good. That you can carry forward with you all the time no matter what the circumstance presents. But we’re playing really good basketball teams from here on out, and we’ve got to be ready to go no matter which team it is.”
With the intensity of March Madness ahead, Gottlieb knows her squad must stay focused and ready for any challenge that lies ahead.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Indiana kept fighting, with Garzon hitting big buckets, including another crucial 3-pointer to keep it close. After a 13-4 run by USC gave the Trojans a 55-48 lead late in the third, it seemed like they might pull away, but the Hoosiers clawed their way back to within 59-57 heading into the final period. USC responded with a 9-3 spurt to extend their lead to 71-63 with 5:15 left, but Indiana wouldn’t go down without a fight, cutting the deficit to 71-68.
However, back-to-back 3-pointers from Talia von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins put USC firmly in control, extending the lead to its largest of the game. Despite Watkins picking up back-to-back fouls and an awkward fall, she showed true resilience, getting back up like a champion. At 6:06, she made a perfect pass to Avery Howell for a 3-point splash, while Kennedy Smith’s defensive steal and score pushed the lead further. With USC’s offense firing on all cylinders, including several key 3-pointers in the fourth, the Trojans took control of the game.
Coach Lindsey, named Big Ten Women’s Coach of the Year, and JuJu, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors, were recognized during the game—an emotional moment for the team. Kiki Iriafen, who fouled out with less than a minute to go, finished with a double-double—21 points and 10 rebounds. Smart free-throw shooting and solid play from USC secured their 84-79 victory, with JuJu leading the way with 31 points, 10 boards, and an impressive 10-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Now, with the win, the Lady Trojans are headed to the next round of the Big Ten Tournament, where they’ll face the winner of Michigan vs. Maryland tomorrow at 3 p.m.
