Southern California dominates Minnesota with 82-69 win

In a recent women's college basketball match, fourth-ranked Southern California showcased their strength by defeating Minnesota with a final score of 82-69. The game occurred on a Thursday night and marked Southern California's first home game in 18 days after dealing with scheduling changes due to local wildfires. The Trojans maintained a lead throughout the game, bolstered by Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins, who both delivered impressive performances, contributing a combined 43 points. Despite a rocky start for Watkins, who struggled early in the game but eventually scored 20 points, Southern California remained resilient. The team's defense proved crucial as they outperformed Minnesota in key moments, including a significant 10-2 run to secure their lead late in the second half. Southern California's strong rebound game with both Iriafen and Watkins recording double-doubles highlighted their dominance. Minnesota's journey this season has been challenging, with this loss pushing their overall record to 18-4 and 6-4 in the Big Ten. Leading scorers Sophie Hart and Mallory Heyer contributed 18 and 17 points respectively, trying to keep Minnesota competitive. However, Southern California's efficient play, particularly in the second half, allowed them to extend their winning streak to 15 games and positioned them strongly within the conference standings. Both teams were scheduled to continue their seasons soon after this matchup, with Minnesota set to face the top-ranked UCLA team next. UCLA continued their undefeated run with a strong roster showcasing depth and scoring versatility that has characterized their season, creating a challenging environment for Minnesota to navigate and recover after this defeat.