No. 4 USC keeps on winning as Trojans post 82-69 victory over Minnesota

Make it 15 in a row for the No. 4 USC Trojans as Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins each had 20-point outings in a comfortable 82-69 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Trojans ran out to an 18-3 lead on Thursday evening and although it didn’t turn into a lopsided blowout for four quarters, USC never trailed and was able to withstand something of a nervy fourth quarter.

The Trojans took a 64-49 lead into the final 10 minutes only for the Gophers to score the first nine points of the quarter and cut the USC lead to six at 64-58 with 8:10 remaining. USC true freshman Avery Howell connected on a three-pointer and then a 7-0 run by Watkins stretched the Trojans’ lead to a comfortable margin as USC cruised the final 6:42 with a double-digit margin.

Iriafen scored a game-high 23 points and collected 11 rebounds. Watkins scored 10 points and also had 11 rebounds, though she struggled from beyond the three-point line. She and Kennedy Smith combined to go just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc. Smith did have nine points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

It was the seventh double-double of the season for Iriafen and fourth for Watkins.

Watkins has scored at least 20 points in 45 of the 54 games she’s played for the Trojans. The three-point make means she’s hit one in all 15 games of this winning streak.

The Trojans played without Rayah Marshall against Minnesota. She missed the game due to injury.

USC now hits the road for games at Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 2 and Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Iowa is 14-7 overall but 4-6 in conference play. Wisconsin is 11-10 overall and 2-8 against Big Ten competition. Following those games, the Trojans have two gigantic statement opportunities back home at Galen Center.

No. 8 Ohio State visits on Saturday, Feb. 8 and then No. 1 UCLA heads across town on Thursday, Feb. 13.