USC's JuJu Watkins has a stellar performance, scoring 51 points to lead an upset against Stanford.

February 03, 2024

USC's JuJu Watkins has a stellar performance, scoring 51 points to lead an upset against Stanford.

On Sunday night, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb received a call from a security guard regarding freshman guard JuJu Watkins, who was practicing late following a tough loss to Washington. Despite the off-night and the team's recent struggles, Gottlieb allowed Watkins to continue honing her skills.

Fast forward to Friday night, and Watkins not only rediscovered her scoring touch but also solidified her position as the frontrunner for freshman of the year, even entering the player of the year conversation. Playing against No. 4 Stanford and legendary coach Tara VanDerveer, Watkins delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 51 points on 14-for-26 shooting and leading the No. 15 Trojans to a 67-58 victory in their final regular-season Pac-12 matchup.

Watkins' historic performance, the first 50-point game in Division I this season, set a new school record and stands as the second-highest point total in a Pac-12 game, behind only Kelsey Plum's 57 against Utah in 2017.

Watkins showcased her impact across the entire court. Alongside her impressive four steals and two assists, she secured 11 rebounds, marking her as the sole Division I freshman in the past 25 seasons to achieve 50 points and 10 rebounds. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, she became the first player of the season to achieve 40 points and 10 rebounds in a game.

Her extraordinary performance garnered such attention that, by the second half, the Maples Pavilion crowd couldn't help but watch in amazement as Watkins consistently made shots, overcoming defensive schemes thrown her way by Stanford. Watkins recounted the crowd's reaction, noting that every time she scored, the audience responded with collective awe, creating a surreal atmosphere.

Watkins accounted for a remarkable 76% of USC's total points, marking the highest percentage scored by a player in the past 25 seasons, as per ESPN Stats & Information. Only three other players contributed points for the Trojans, which coincidentally matched the number of USC post players who fouled out by the 4:02 mark of the fourth quarter.

Following the game, Stanford and Colorado secured the top two spots in the Pac-12 standings with 8-2 records, while USC improved to 5-4.

Coach Gottlieb had sensed the potential for something extraordinary in Watkins in the days following the loss to Washington. Watkins, dissatisfied with her individual performance in that game, where she scored 19 points on 8-for-27 shooting, expressed difficulty sleeping afterward.

For Gottlieb, Watkins' unique demeanor, coupled with her on-court prowess, distinguishes her. Gottlieb emphasized Watkins' receptiveness to coaching, her qualities as a teammate, her accountability, and her ability to elevate her game. While the coach didn't anticipate Watkins' record-breaking performance, she highlighted that Watkins' exceptional qualities came to the forefront in a way that should leave basketball enthusiasts thoroughly impressed.

In the Maples Pavilion, where Watkins fondly remembered sitting in the stands during her official visit as a recruit before ultimately choosing USC, Coach Gottlieb felt a sense of relief when Watkins successfully made her first 3-point attempt on Friday. The freshman had been experiencing a bit of a shooting slump, failing to make more than two 3-pointers in each of her previous eight games. However, on Friday night, she finished 6 for 11 from beyond the arc, surpassing Stanford's team total of 4 for 15.

Despite Stanford's attempts to use multiple defenders to impede Watkins, their efforts proved futile. This, combined with Stanford's offensive struggles, resulted in their first home loss of the season.

At halftime with the score tied at 31, Watkins realized she had already scored 25 points and set her sights on reaching 50. Subsequently, she scored USC's first 15 points of the second half, establishing a double-digit lead that proved sufficient for the Trojans to withstand a late Stanford comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.

Commenting on Watkins' performance, Coach VanDerveer noted that once she found her rhythm, the basket seemed to "get really big for her."

Watkins experienced a decline in field goal scoring during the final 15 minutes, but she compensated by making 13 of 15 free throws in the second half. By the conclusion of the game, she had drawn 16 fouls and attempted 19 free throws.

This individual performance was an extraordinary occurrence, especially against Stanford and on their home court. Going back to the beginning of the century, the highest point total scored against the Cardinal was 44, achieved by Plum. Notably, Watkins achieved this feat only 19 games into her collegiate career.

When asked about the significance of this performance, Coach VanDerveer expressed that it ranks among the top freshman performances she has witnessed, emphasizing Watkins' exceptional talent. Coach Gottlieb added that she is most proud of the team's victory and how they collectively contributed to this remarkable achievement, stating, "I'll never forget this."

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USC's JuJu Watkins has a stellar performance, scoring 51 points to lead an upset against Stanford.

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