USC Overcomes Michigan in Big Ten Semifinal, 82-70

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Southern California Trojans overcame a slow start to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 82-70 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday, advancing to the championship. The pivotal decision for No. 5 seed Michigan (22-10 overall, 11-7 Big Ten) centered around how to defend Trojans star guard JuJu Watkins, which influenced their overall strategy.

Michigan’s strategy to limit Watkins’ scoring meant relying on USC’s larger forwards, including Kiki Iriafen, who ultimately dominated the paint. This tactic led to a successful comeback from No. 1 seed USC (28-2, 16-1) after being behind at halftime.

The first quarter saw both squads struggle offensively, each registering just six points in the initial five minutes, hindered by strong defensive maneuvers. By halftime, USC trailed 31-29, marking only the second time this season they found themselves in an unfavorable position after two quarters.

In the third quarter, USC adjusted its approach, focusing on inside scoring. The Trojans began feeding the ball to Iriafen, whose aggressive play paid off, helping USC regain the lead 53-52 by the end of the period.

“She was also making some good passes out, and they hit some clutch threes as well,” said Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs, acknowledging Iriafen’s impact.

In the final quarter, despite Iriafen’s impressive performance, which included 25 points and 10 rebounds, Michigan continued to respond with effective shooting, keeping the game competitive.

However, the decisive moment came when Watkins, tightly guarded throughout the game, swung the ball to teammate Avery Howell, who nailed a three-pointer to extend USC’s lead to 70-60. “I knew that the fourth quarter was going to be huge for our team, and I just tried to show up in any way I could,” Howell said.

Despite Michigan’s tenacity and efforts to counteract the Trojans’ strategies, their inability to dominate the boards and turnovers cost them dearly, leading to an early exit from the tournament. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb recognized the physical toll on Watkins, stating, “She was getting trapped and doubled when she’s with the ball in her hands.”