Watkins Leads USC to 118-40 Win in Homecoming

Watkins added six assists and five steals in 27 minutes as USC opened its home schedule with a dominant win at the Galen Center. The senior’s return to the court came after an injury that had kept her out for nearly 20 months. Fans gave her a standing ovation when she left the game with 2:34 remaining.

She hit a pull-up jumper at the first-quarter buzzer to extend USC’s lead to 36-11. Watkins had 16 points and nine rebounds by halftime, and finished with a career-high 16 boards. Her total was just three fewer than Utah State’s entire team collected.

USC grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and scored 32 second-chance points. Freshman Saniyah Hall scored 20 points in back-to-back games, and six Trojans reached double figures. USC reached 100 points or more twice in a row, something it had not done since 1986; the 78-point margin was the second-largest win in school history.

Watkins also became the first women’s basketball player from the Big Ten in 25 years to tally five steals, five assists, 15 rebounds and 30 points in one game. She has scored 53 points in two games since returning on November 2, when USC beat UNLV 100-68. This marked the 22nd time in her career she had scored 30 or more points, bringing her within three of Cheryl Miller’s USC record.

Utah State, now 1-2, will take on Idaho State on Wednesday. USC, 2-0, will play College of Charleston on Tuesday.