LOS ANGELES — The USC women’s basketball team celebrated Senior Day on Sunday, honoring five players who contributed to the No. 4-ranked program over the course of their college careers.
Forward Kiki Iriafen, guard Talia von Oelhoffen, forward Rayah Marshall, Center Clarice Akunwafo and guard Dominique Darius each walked on the court accompanied by family members before the game at Galen Center. It was a moment to be toasted by the fans and coaching staff.
But around these parts, the day normally belongs to widely recognized sophomore guard JuJu Watkins, the Trojans’ 6-2 superstar. But not this time, not completely.
She shared the spotlight with her teammates, many of whom were playing their final regular-season home game.
While Watkins still posted an impressive 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and four blocked shots, the Trojans got additional help in defeating No. 25 Illinois 76-66.
Iriafen scored 22 points, posted five rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocked shots and Marshall closed out her final regular season home game with 12 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
With the victory, USC will face UCLA for the Big Ten regular-season title next week. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 10 days ago, knocking them out of the No. 3 spot and will be looking to avenge the stinging loss.
The Bruins, which beat Iowa on Sunday, are 26-1 overall, 14-1 in conference play; the Trojans are 25-2, 15-1.
The commanding finish Sunday – they opened a 13-point lead late in the game – didn’t tell the whole story. For the second consecutive game, the Trojans needed to overcome mistakes and flaws to come out ahead.
The Trojans missed their first 14 shots of the third quarter, an unusual in-game slump for a team averaging 82.2 points. The Illini didn’t waste that opportunity and used the lapse to tie the game at 40 points a piece at the 7:42 mark.
It didn’t take long before Marshall kick-started the Trojans’ stagnant offense with back-to-back layups, the second off a steal, to pull USC ahead 45-42. Watkins followed immediately with a basket for a 47-42 lead.
By the end of the third quarter, USC held a comfortable 57-47 advantage.
The Trojans got off to a quick start opening a nine-point lead late in the first quarter. Watkins drove the lane to cap an 11-1 run for a 24-15 cushion. But the moment was fleeting and by the end of the first half, the Trojans were fighting to hold off the Illini and held a slim 40-36 lead.
Watkins stole the ball and drove in for a layup to cap a 9-4 run and help USC turn a 26-22 lead at the end of the first to a 37-26 lead with 5:46 left. After the Illini scored, Watkins scored another layup off an assist by von Oelhoffen.
Illinois adjusted midway through the second quarter, clamping down inside and forcing the Trojans to shoot from outside, where they struggled. The Trojans connected on just 3 of 10 3-point attempts in the first half.
The Illini offense then went to work, outscoring USC 8-1 to pull within four points to close out the first half.