Minus wounded juju watkins, USC wins, seals elite eight bid

Spokane, Wash. – Playing for the first time since SuperStar learning Juju watkins There will be the rest of the NCAA tournament with ACL tears, USC Trojan horse Used key posts from their top class Freshman to defeat Kansas State Wildcats 67-61 and proceed to their second consecutive elite eight -member match against Uconn Huskies.

Although she was unable to travel and was at home in Los Angeles, Watkins remained in touch with her team before and after victory, and facetiming the group to join Postgame.

“She hit me and just said how proud she was before this game, about staff coaching, players, everything we were,” said USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “And then it was hard to hear in the dressing room, but there were a lot of smiles and my daughter was blowing her kisses and said,” Juju is injured? “

“And I said,” No, he is still injured, but today and today we are happy. “So just trying to keep your spirit with us.

When Trojan Kiki IriafenThe second main shooter of the team. After Iriafen gained 36 points against the Bulldogs, he couldn’t have the same impact on Saturday insulting, missing 10 of her 13 shots and ending up with only seven points.

This prepared the stage for newcomers to drive the team to win.

“They played remarkably,” Iriafen said. “We wouldn’t be in this game on Monday.

Smith got the Trojan horse at a strong beginning and in the opening period he turned Kansas State 11-9. It ended with 19 points with a high team.

“I’m ready for a moment,” Smith said. “Even in high school, just balance with that, I think I was ready to be in a position I am right now.”

The highest of seven freshmen USC, No. 6 overall from ESPN Hoopgurlz, was Smith Starter throughout the season. On Saturday, Jowell joined her, which only made her second career at Watkins.

Howell tied her career high with 18 points, including the seven -high quarter team, and added his career four theft. According to ESPN research, Howell and Smith have become the first few freshmen to earn at least 18 points in the NCAA tournament game since Paige Bueckers And Aaliyah Edwards did it three times for Uconn in 2021 on the way to Final Four.

“Credit to his freshmen,” said Jeff Mittie, “because it is a big scene and some reason, they are recruitment class No. 1 and I thought they got off.”

Third Trojan freshman, guard Kayleigh heckelHe finished the game on the point of the fifth year of the Talia von Oelhoffen. Heckel scored eight points, which means more than two -thirds 67 USC points came from Freshman class.

“What can I say about our newcomers?” Gottlieb said. “They are the winners of everything else. … They are incredibly claiming and they are the winners. And I told them before the match and earned every piece and I am proud to play in elite eight and proud of our group to experience it.”

How destroyed if the Trojan

USC freshmen helped ensure that they went further than last season, who remain achievable, heading for Monday’s match with Uconn, a year after the teams met in the same round with the Final Four on the line.

“We still have a common goal of obviously win the National Championship,” Smith said. “When Ju was falling, it was obviously a bit of adversity that we had to face, but we just had it in our presence. We talked to her before the game. She still rooted us, things of this nature, so she just kept her in our hearts and minds and played for herself.”