PORTLAND, Ore. — Baylor punching their ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time under head coach Nicki Collen, facing a USC team with one of the best guards in the country. Freshman JuJu Watkins is averaging almost 30 points a game, putting up 51 in a single game for the Trojans this season.
It was going to take another elite performance from the Bears defense to shut down a prolific player like Watkins. The freshman guard racked in 15 points and four rebounds in the first half. The Bears struggling to find it from the arc going just 3-12 from three in the first half.
Dre Edwards attacking the glass for Baylor, snagging seven boards with Darianna Littlepage-Buggs right behind her with six.
The Trojans entered an 8-0 run in the second quarter, penetrating the basket with 11 rebounds for 6'4'' center/forward, Rayah Marshall.
USC heads to the locker room with the lead, 37-31.
Both teams come out hot second half. Buggs sinking 4 straight jumpers from the top of the key, while JuJu Watkins drains back-to-back threes for the Trojans.
Bears get within two in the third. Sarah Andrews sinks a three to take a 50-49 lead, Baylor's first lead since the first few minutes of play.
Jada Walker snags her 1,000th career point to close out the third quarter.
Baylor entered the 4th quarter with a narrow lead over USC at the Sweet 16, but the top-seeded Trojans outlasted the Bears, 74-70.
JuJu Watkins turned in another rock-solid performance for USC. Despite shooting just 8-28 from the field, Watkins led the way with 30 points to go along with six rebounds and four blocks.
Baylor punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time under head coach Nicki Collen, facing a USC team with one of the best guards in the country. Freshman JuJu Watkins is averaging almost 30 points a game, putting up 51 in a single game for the Trojans this season.
It was going to take another elite performance from the Bears defense to shut down a prolific player like Watkins. The freshman guard racked in 15 points and four rebounds in the first half. The Bears struggling to find it from the arc going just 3-12 from three in the first half.
Dre Edwards attacking the glass for Baylor, snagging seven boards with Darianna Littlepage-Buggs right behind her with six.
The Trojans entered an 8-0 run in the second quarter, penetrating the basket with 11 rebounds for 6'4'' center/forward, Rayah Marshall.
USC heads to the locker room with the lead, 37-31.
Both teams come out hot second half. Buggs sinking 4 straight jumpers from the top of the key, while JuJu Watkins drains back-to-back threes for the Trojans.
Bears get within two in the third. Sarah Andrews sinks a three to take a 50-49 lead, Baylor's first lead since the first few minutes of play.
Jada Walker snags her 1,000th career point to close out the third quarter.
The Bears led 57-53 moving to the 4th quarter, but USC slowly pulled ahead and never looked back after a three-point play from Watkins with 3:13 remaining.
USC will face the winner of UConn/Duke in the Elite 8.