With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”
With 11.2 seconds left, JuJu Watkins glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes along with her mom and father sitting within the entrance row at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. She smiled. Relieved.
When she ran straight towards India Otto on the buzzer, she shouted because the fifth-year guard wrapped her in a good hug. Ecstatic. No indicators of ache right here.
The star freshman fought by way of an early ankle harm to complete with 33 factors and 10 rebounds as second-seeded USC survived in double extra time towards third-seeded rival UCLA 80-70 within the semifinals of the Pac-12 event on Friday. The Trojans will play No. 1 seed Stanford within the closing Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
From being picked to complete sixth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot to incomes this system’s highest seed within the convention event, USC (25-5) is one win away from its first convention title since 2014. The rise to prominence has surprised even the generational expertise on the heart of all of it.
“I’m not going to lie,” Watkins mentioned, laughing, “I didn’t suppose this might occur this quickly. … I’m simply blessed, truthfully. Higher than something I may have hoped for, actually.”
After shedding 9 straight to the Bruins, USC has received consecutive rivalry video games, together with a victory at Galen Middle in January. The Trojans received for the primary time towards their crosstown rivals within the Pac-10/12 event after shedding 4 postseason matchups to the Bruins.
Friday’s recreation may need been essentially the most tense of all of them. It felt like a Remaining 4 matchup, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned. Though they had been seeded behind the Trojans within the convention event, the Bruins (25-6) lately had been projected as a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event by ESPN.
“We all the time say that the harder, extra collectively group wins and so they had been a little bit bit harder than us,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned. “And simply being actually candid, that’s all the time on me. It’s my accountability to have my group be in place to be that and we weren’t.”
UCLA heart Lauren Betts had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Guard Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 21 factors, together with 10 factors within the second quarter that helped UCLA battle again from a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
USC completed the primary quarter with 16 consecutive factors, together with 14 after Watkins returned from an ankle harm she sustained 48 seconds into the sport. She aggravated it within the first minute of the primary extra time and couldn’t put any weight on her left leg after collapsing underneath the basket. She was helped to the bench along with her arms draped over the shoulders of two group employees members. One minute and 34 seconds of recreation time later, Watkins tightened her shoe laces and checked again into the sport.
“I knew I needed to get again in as a result of I believe my group wanted me,” Watkins mentioned. “But it surely’s simply an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Really feel nice. Able to play on Sunday.”
So, a reporter interjected, you’re prepared for an additional extra time?
Watkins laughed. “That is perhaps pushing it.”
It wasn’t something new to Gottlieb, who recalled watching a 6:30 a.m. preseason observe at Sierra Canyon when the star participant turned her ankle initially of the session. She returned then, too.
“This child just isn’t regular,” Gottlieb mentioned.
UCLA had probabilities to win on the finish of regulation and the primary extra time, getting stops on protection, securing a rebound and calling timeout with 1.9 seconds remaining. Each occasions, the Bruins did not get a shot off.
Shut admitted that if given the chance, she possible would have modified the decision on the primary play that ended with Kiki Rice heaving a shot after the buzzer as a result of the Bruins couldn’t create a clear catch off the inbound go. On the finish of extra time, Angela Dugalić in-bounded the go to Osborne, who drove to the baseline and handed it to a teammate because the buzzer sounded.
“That’s not the place the place I assumed we received or misplaced the sport,” Shut mentioned. “Giving up defensive rebounds on free throws, we had been up 4, we management that.”
UCLA led by 4 with 57 seconds remaining in extra time when Watkins went to the free throw line for 2 pictures. She sank the primary — considered one of her 14 made free throws on 17 makes an attempt — however missed the second. Kaitlin Davis turned the possession right into a four-point journey, gathering the offensive rebound and shoveling it to Kayla Padilla, who whipped a go to McKenzie Forbes for the tying three-pointer with 50 seconds left.
Uniting USC’s trio of Ivy League transfers, Gottlieb known as the play “Ivy Particular.” The maturity of USC’s graduate transfers who all starred at their former faculties, mixed with Watkins’ immense expertise, has made the Trojans a harmful group in clutch moments. USC has received 11 video games with single-digit closing rating margins this season, greater than some other Pac-12 group.
“We will get the win,” mentioned Davis, who completed with 16 rebounds, “as a result of we’ve carried out it earlier than.”
USC gamers pointed 4 fingers down in celebration. The band’s gleaming silver sword discovered its method into Watkins’ fingers. She raised it into the air as USC gamers paraded onto the Pac-12 Networks set and she or he positioned USC’s pink sticker on the outsized event bracket, placing the Trojans into the ultimate towards Stanford.
USC’s band and touring pupil part chanted, “Ju-Ju! Ju-Ju!”