We should have known that JuJu Watkins was going to find the bottom of the net with relative ease on Friday night after making a shot from behind the bench during warmups.
The freshman sensation led the USC Trojans to their seventh straight win in Los Angeles on Friday night, pouring in a stunning 42 points as USC topped Colorado 87-81. Watkins also piled up four assists, four steals and four rebounds, and set a few more records in the process.
It was Watkins’ 11th game of the season where she had scored at least 30 points, pushing her past the legendary Cheryl Miller for the most by a USC player in a single season.
Watkins’ 42 points are also the most points scored by any USC player – man or woman – in the Trojans’ Galen Center, which opened in 2006.
In case you live on the East Coast or called it an early night, here’s the highlights from another big night from Watkins. She – and Pac-12 After Dark – keep delivering this season:
Trojans win the heavyweight battle 🥊
JuJu Watkins drops 42 points as No. 7 USC pulls away late from No. 11 Colorado. Highlights ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YBiXcNaUGC
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 24, 2024
After the game, Watkins had a crowd of fans waiting for her for photos and autographs.
Really awesome scene outside Galen Center after #USC win – close to 100 fans lined up waiting for JuJu Watkins, who spent close to 20 mins signing autographs and taking pictures with fans of all ages. @USCWBB @Jujubballin pic.twitter.com/csu3QPDqRP
— McKenna Keil (@mckenna_keil) February 24, 2024
While players like Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, LSU’s Mikaylah Williams, Fairfield’s Meghan Andersen and Iowa State’s Audi Crooks are having great season, Watkins seems like the frontrunner to win the National Freshman of the Year award. She’s second in the nation in scoring – trailing only Iowa’s Caitlin Clark – with 28.1 points per game.
And we’re all looking forward to seeing her score a bunch more.
JuJu Watkins had no idea postgame that she broke both Cheryl Miller’s record for most 30-point games in a season and the record for most points scored at the Galen Center.
Watkins: “Nah, that’s insane, honestly. But of course, it’s Cheryl Miller.” pic.twitter.com/RYyA9z1dSa
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 24, 2024
