The highly-anticipated matchup between the No. 3 USC Trojans and No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels lived up to the hype as the Trojans held on for a thrilling 68-66 victory to open the 2024-25 NCAA women’s basketball season in Paris. Despite leading by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, USC found themselves trailing late before rallying to secure the narrow win.
USC’s star sophomore JuJu Watkins, a front-runner for national player of the year, led the way with an impressive stat line of 27 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 blocks. However, Watkins also committed 9 turnovers, highlighting some of the offensive struggles the Trojans faced against Ole Miss’ tenacious defense.
Iriafen Shines in USC Debut
USC’s highly-touted transfer Kiki Iriafen, who joined the team from Stanford in the offseason, made an immediate impact in her Trojan debut. Iriafen finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, hitting the game-winning free throws with just 9 seconds remaining. Her performance confirmed why she was ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 impact newcomer for the 2024-25 season.
The Rebels, led by KK Deans’ team-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, nearly pulled off the upset thanks to their stifling defense and timely shooting. Ole Miss trailed for much of the game but rallied to take a 64-60 lead with just 2:23 left on the clock. However, costly turnovers in the final minute allowed USC to escape with the victory.
USC looked like a team with nine newcomers, including three new starters. The excitement over the Trojans’ incoming players comes with the reality that there’s some learning curve as the players get used to one another.
According to a close source familiar with the USC program
Takeaways and Looking Ahead
While the win keeps USC’s lofty expectations intact, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her staff will have plenty to work on in the coming weeks. The Trojans’ offense appeared stagnant at times, relying heavily on Watkins, Iriafen, and the free-throw line. USC also struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 1 of 11 attempts.
- USC committed 26 turnovers, four more than their made field goals
- The Trojans shot just 1-for-9 from the field in the fourth quarter
- Watkins managed only two points in the final seven minutes
Despite these concerns, the narrow victory over a ranked opponent should provide valuable experience for USC’s young roster. The Trojans will look to build upon this win as they face Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge before a highly-anticipated showdown with No. 6 Notre Dame on November 23rd.
As for Ole Miss, the heartbreaking loss showcased the team’s potential to compete with the nation’s elite. With Deans back in the lineup after missing most of last season due to injury, the Rebels appear poised to make noise in the SEC and beyond.
The NCAA women’s basketball season is off to an exhilarating start, and if the USC-Ole Miss thriller is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride filled with incredible performances, nail-biting finishes, and plenty of surprises along the way.
The Rebels, led by KK Deans’ team-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, nearly pulled off the upset thanks to their stifling defense and timely shooting. Ole Miss trailed for much of the game but rallied to take a 64-60 lead with just 2:23 left on the clock. However, costly turnovers in the final minute allowed USC to escape with the victory.
USC looked like a team with nine newcomers, including three new starters. The excitement over the Trojans’ incoming players comes with the reality that there’s some learning curve as the players get used to one another.
According to a close source familiar with the USC program
Takeaways and Looking Ahead
While the win keeps USC’s lofty expectations intact, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her staff will have plenty to work on in the coming weeks. The Trojans’ offense appeared stagnant at times, relying heavily on Watkins, Iriafen, and the free-throw line. USC also struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 1 of 11 attempts.
- USC committed 26 turnovers, four more than their made field goals
- The Trojans shot just 1-for-9 from the field in the fourth quarter
- Watkins managed only two points in the final seven minutes
Despite these concerns, the narrow victory over a ranked opponent should provide valuable experience for USC’s young roster. The Trojans will look to build upon this win as they face Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge before a highly-anticipated showdown with No. 6 Notre Dame on November 23rd.
As for Ole Miss, the heartbreaking loss showcased the team’s potential to compete with the nation’s elite. With Deans back in the lineup after missing most of last season due to injury, the Rebels appear poised to make noise in the SEC and beyond.
The NCAA women’s basketball season is off to an exhilarating start, and if the USC-Ole Miss thriller is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride filled with incredible performances, nail-biting finishes, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Ole Miss’ Valiant Effort Falls Just Short
The Rebels, led by KK Deans’ team-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, nearly pulled off the upset thanks to their stifling defense and timely shooting. Ole Miss trailed for much of the game but rallied to take a 64-60 lead with just 2:23 left on the clock. However, costly turnovers in the final minute allowed USC to escape with the victory.
USC looked like a team with nine newcomers, including three new starters. The excitement over the Trojans’ incoming players comes with the reality that there’s some learning curve as the players get used to one another.
According to a close source familiar with the USC program
Takeaways and Looking Ahead
While the win keeps USC’s lofty expectations intact, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her staff will have plenty to work on in the coming weeks. The Trojans’ offense appeared stagnant at times, relying heavily on Watkins, Iriafen, and the free-throw line. USC also struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 1 of 11 attempts.
- USC committed 26 turnovers, four more than their made field goals
- The Trojans shot just 1-for-9 from the field in the fourth quarter
- Watkins managed only two points in the final seven minutes
Despite these concerns, the narrow victory over a ranked opponent should provide valuable experience for USC’s young roster. The Trojans will look to build upon this win as they face Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge before a highly-anticipated showdown with No. 6 Notre Dame on November 23rd.
As for Ole Miss, the heartbreaking loss showcased the team’s potential to compete with the nation’s elite. With Deans back in the lineup after missing most of last season due to injury, the Rebels appear poised to make noise in the SEC and beyond.
The NCAA women’s basketball season is off to an exhilarating start, and if the USC-Ole Miss thriller is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride filled with incredible performances, nail-biting finishes, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Ole Miss’ Valiant Effort Falls Just Short
The Rebels, led by KK Deans’ team-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, nearly pulled off the upset thanks to their stifling defense and timely shooting. Ole Miss trailed for much of the game but rallied to take a 64-60 lead with just 2:23 left on the clock. However, costly turnovers in the final minute allowed USC to escape with the victory.
USC looked like a team with nine newcomers, including three new starters. The excitement over the Trojans’ incoming players comes with the reality that there’s some learning curve as the players get used to one another.
According to a close source familiar with the USC program
Takeaways and Looking Ahead
While the win keeps USC’s lofty expectations intact, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her staff will have plenty to work on in the coming weeks. The Trojans’ offense appeared stagnant at times, relying heavily on Watkins, Iriafen, and the free-throw line. USC also struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 1 of 11 attempts.
- USC committed 26 turnovers, four more than their made field goals
- The Trojans shot just 1-for-9 from the field in the fourth quarter
- Watkins managed only two points in the final seven minutes
Despite these concerns, the narrow victory over a ranked opponent should provide valuable experience for USC’s young roster. The Trojans will look to build upon this win as they face Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge before a highly-anticipated showdown with No. 6 Notre Dame on November 23rd.
As for Ole Miss, the heartbreaking loss showcased the team’s potential to compete with the nation’s elite. With Deans back in the lineup after missing most of last season due to injury, the Rebels appear poised to make noise in the SEC and beyond.
The NCAA women’s basketball season is off to an exhilarating start, and if the USC-Ole Miss thriller is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride filled with incredible performances, nail-biting finishes, and plenty of surprises along the way.
