Watkins scores 31 points to propel No. 4 USC women’s basketball past No. 23 Michigan
Michigan guard Olivia Olson, right, shoots as USC guard Talia von Oelhoffen defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC forward Kiki Iriafen, left, blocks a shot by Michigan guard Mila Holloway during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins,left, shoots as Michigan guard Olivia Olson defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard Talia von Oelhoffen, center, grapples for the ball with Michigan forward Ally VanTimmeren, left, and guard Mila Holloway during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard Kennedy Smith, left, jumps to keep the ball in bounds as Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan center Yulia Grabovskaia, right, shoots as USC forward Kiki Iriafen defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs, left, shoots as USC guard JuJu Watkins defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder, left, shoots as USC guard Avery Howell defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC center Rayah Marshall, left, shoots as Michigan forward Ally VanTimmeren defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC forward Kiki Iriafen, right, shoots as Michigan center Yulia Grabovskaia defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins, left, tries to pass the ball while under pressure from Michigan guard Te’Yala Delfosse during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan guard Brooke Daniels, left, and USC forward Kiki Iriafen grapple for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins, left, blocks a shot by Michigan forward Ally VanTimmeren during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard Avery Howell, left, celebrates after scoring with guard JuJu Watkins, right, as Michigan guard Olivia Olson walks away during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins takes a breather after being taken out of the game in the final seconds of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins, left, and Michigan guard Mila Holloway scramble for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins, left, shoots as Michigan guard Mila Holloway defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC forward Kiki Iriafen, left, blocks the shot of Michigan guard Olivia Olson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC forward Kiki Iriafen, center, grabs a rebound away from Michigan forward Ally VanTimmeren, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan guard Olivia Olson, left, and USC guard Talia von Oelhoffen reach for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins, right, drives against Michigan guard Olivia Olson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan guard Brooke Daniels, left, has her shot blocked by USC guard JuJu Watkins during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Michigan guard Brooke Daniels, left, tries to shoot as USC guard JuJu Watkins defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC’s Kennedy Smith, left, JuJu Watkins, center, and Avery Howell listen to the national anthem prior to an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC guard JuJu Watkins, right, holds a ball to commemorate scoring 1,000 career points as she stands with head coach Lindsay Gottlieb prior to an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Michigan guard Olivia Olson, right, shoots as USC guard Talia von Oelhoffen defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — JuJu Watkins scored 31 points, making 13 of 14 free throws, and No. 4 USC beat No. 23 Michigan 78-58 on Sunday night in the Trojans’ Big Ten home opener.
Watkins had five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks. Kiki Iriafen added 18 points for the Trojans (12-1, 2-0). The duo combined to score USC’s first 16 points in the fourth when the Trojans outscored Michigan 21-9.
Jordan Hobbs scored 19 points for Michigan (10-3, 1-1). Greta Kampschroeder added 14 and Olivia Olson had 11.
Michigan: The Wolverines have lost to all three ranked opponents they’ve faced so far this season, including a six-point defeat to then-No. 1 South Carolina. They’ll get another crack at the top team at UCLA on Wednesday.
USC: Iriafen was on the bench with four fouls before returning in the fourth. She scored the Trojans’ first eight points to stretch their lead to 18 points and provided solid defense in the low post.
With Michigan trailing by 10 points, Hobbs scored 14 straight points, including four 3-pointers in a row, to help the Wolverines trail 34-31 at halftime.
The Trojans were 20 of 23 from the free-throw line, making 13 of 14 in the third when they trailed by two before getting their lead back up to 10 going into the fourth.
Michigan visits top-ranked UCLA, and USC hosts Nebraska, both on Wednesday.
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