JuJu Watkins Powers No. 3 USC Past Utah State, 118-40, in Home Opener

Sunday, November 8

Los Angeles, Calif.

5:00 PM

USC

2-0,0-0Big Ten

118

Utah State

1-2,0-0Pac-12

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Utah St.	11	11	10	8	40
Southern California	36	19	34	29	118

Highlights Press Conference

JuJu Watkins puts up a shot against Utah State.

Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics

November 08, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Watkins delivers 32 points and a career-high 16 rebounds as six Trojans score in double figures in USC’s second-largest victory in program history.

LOS ANGELES — Senior guard JuJu Watkins recorded 32 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, six assists and five steals to lead No. 3 USC women's basketball to a commanding 118-40 victory over Utah State in its home opener Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Galen Center.

Playing in front of just under 8,000 fans, the Women of Troy improved to 2-0 with a scoring total that tied for the third highest in program history, matching USC's 118 points against Missouri on Dec. 27, 1985. The 78-point margin of victory ranks second in school history, behind only USC's 124-39 win over CSUN on Nov. 12, 2024.

Watkins led six Trojans in double figures, shooting 10-for-19 from the floor, 4-for-7 from three-point range and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line in 27 minutes. Her first double-double of the season marked the 18th of her career, while her points, assists and steals established season highs.

Freshman Saniyah Hall delivered her second consecutive 20-point performance, adding five rebounds, a career-high three assists and two blocks. Sara Okeke contributed career highs of 12 points and eight rebounds while making all five of her field-goal attempts and both free throws. Jazzy Davidson added 12 points and a season-high six assists, while Sitaya Fagan matched her career high with 11 points and Laura Williams scored a career-best 10.

USC shot 60 percent from the field and recorded 29 assists against just seven turnovers. The Trojans controlled the interior with a 72-22 advantage in paint points and a 56-19 rebounding edge, including 23 offensive boards that helped produce 32 second-chance points. Defensively, USC held Utah State to 28.1 percent shooting and converted 18 Aggie turnovers into 27 points.

Davidson opened the scoring with a three-pointer off an assist from Kennedy Smith just 14 seconds into the contest. Hall fueled USC's early offense with 10 first-quarter points, making all four of her shots, including a pair of threes. A 15-3 run helped the Trojans build a 25-9 advantage before Watkins capped the quarter with a buzzer-beating triple for a 36-11 lead.

The Women of Troy shot 76.5 percent in the opening period, going 13-for-17 from the floor and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. USC also generated 12 points off turnovers and 10 fast-break points in the quarter while holding Utah State scoreless in both categories.

Fagan opened USC's second-quarter scoring with a layup at the 8:15 mark, beginning a 13-2 stretch that pushed the advantage to 49-15. Watkins supplied seven points and five rebounds in the period as the Trojans took a 55-22 lead into halftime.

Smith opened the second half with a jumper, and USC continued to pull away with a 17-5 surge to establish a 72-27 advantage. The Trojans later strung together 17 unanswered points, stretching the lead to 89-29 before closing the third quarter ahead 89-32. Watkins contributed eight points and five rebounds in the period as USC outscored the Aggies 34-10.

USC began the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run, surpassing triple digits and extending its lead to 103-34 with 5:59 remaining. Watkins knocked down two more three-pointers in the final period, finishing with eight fourth-quarter points as the Trojans completed the 118-40 victory. USC did not surrender an offensive rebound in the second half.

Williams finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and added four rebounds and two blocks. Fagan grabbed a career-high five rebounds and recorded her first career steal, while Ryann Bennett supplied six points, four rebounds and five assists. Smith finished with seven points and a season-high four assists, and Pania Davis added six points on 3-for-3 shooting.

USC returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 10, hosting College of Charleston at 7:30 p.m. PT at the Galen Center.

NOTABLES:

USC improves to 46-5 all-time in home openers.
Six Trojans scored in double figures: SR JuJu Watkins (32), FR Saniyah Hall (20), FR Sara Okeke (12), SO Jazzy Davidson (12), FR Sitaya Fagan (11) and R-SO Laura Williams (10).
USC's 118 points tied for the third-highest total in program history, matching its output against Missouri on Dec. 27, 1985.
The Trojans' 78-point margin of victory ranks second in program history, behind an 85-point win over CSUN (124-39) on Nov. 12, 2024.
USC's 48 made field goals tied for the fourth most in program history, matching its total against CSUN on Nov. 12, 2024.
The Trojans' 63 second-half points tied for the fourth most in a half in program history, matching their output against UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 27, 1981.
USC's 37-rebound advantage (56-19) ranks third in program history.
The Women of Troy scored 72 points in the paint, their most since recording 82 in a 101-99 win over Sacramento State on Dec. 14, 2014.
USC averaged 1.53 points per possession and did not allow an offensive rebound in the second half.
SR JuJu Watkins recorded her first double-double of the season and the 18th of her career with a game- and season-high 32 points and a game- and career-high 16 rebounds. She shot 10-for-19 from the field, 4-for-7 from three-point range and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line. Watkins also recorded a game- and season-high five steals, shared the game lead with a season-high six assists and posted a game-best plus-minus of +61 in 27 minutes.
Watkins recorded her 22nd career 30-point game, moving within three of Cheryl Miller's program record of 25.
SO Jazzy Davidson scored 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting, including 1-for-1 from three-point range, marking her 31st double-figure scoring performance in 34 career games. She surpassed 600 career points, bringing her total to 609, and added three rebounds while sharing the game lead with a season-high six assists.
FR Saniyah Hall scored 20 points for her second consecutive 20-point outing, making a career-high nine field goals on 16 attempts. She added five rebounds, a career-high three assists and a game-high-tying two blocks.
R-SO Laura Williams scored a career-high 10 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field to establish a career high in made field goals. She added a season-high four rebounds and matched the game high with two blocks.
FR Sara Okeke recorded career highs of 12 points and eight rebounds, making all five field-goal attempts and both free throws.
FR Sitaya Fagan matched her career high with 11 points, grabbed a career-high five rebounds and recorded her first career steal.
SR Pania Davis scored a season-high six points and recorded her first steal of the season.
JR Ryann Bennett recorded season highs of six points, four rebounds and five assists.