USC’s women’s basketball team faced a tough challenge on Saturday as they took on Kansas State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament at Spokane Arena. The game was particularly emotional for the Trojans, as they were playing without their star player, JuJu Watkins, who recently suffered a torn ACL.
Despite her absence, the Trojans showed their support for Watkins by wearing matching shirts with her name. Fans in the stands also rallied behind her, holding signs that included messages like "We got you JuJu." The sentiment was clear: the team was determined to win for their injured teammate.
The game was tightly contested, with USC holding just a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Kansas State put up a strong fight, but the Trojans managed to keep their composure. USC secured a 67-61 victory, marking their second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight.
Kennedy Smith led the Trojans with 19 points, while Avery Howell contributed 18 points. The team faced a tough stretch towards the end, going without a field goal for the last 4:35 of the game. However, they maintained their lead by sinking eight free throws during that time.
With this win, USC advances to play second-seeded Connecticut on Monday, with a chance to reach the Final Four. The team’s resilience in the face of adversity has been inspiring, and they will look to build on this momentum in their next game.