JuJu Watkins scores 42 points as 7th-ranked USC beats No. 11 Colorado 87-81

Buffs played catch up in Southern California on the way to a third straight loss

CU Buffs

JuJu Watkins notched her 11th 30-point game this season, pushing 7th-ranked USC to a 87-81 win over No. 11 Colorado on Friday night. She broke Hall-of-Famer Cheryl Miller's school record and finished with 42 points. 

The Buffs (20-6) couldn't contain Watkins, who went 10-for-19 from the floor, including four 3-pointers and 18 points at free throw line. This wasn't the best performance for the freshman either. She lead the way to take down then No. 4 Stanford with 51 points earlier this month. 

USC (21-4) went off from beyond the arc, shooting 13-for-19 on the night. McKenzie Forbes stepped up with five 3-pointers and seven assists. She finished with 24 points. This was an important win for the Trojans in the standings and will likely alter positioning for the Pac-12 tournament. 

“It felt like a heavyweight prize fight on a Friday night and I don’t even know anything about boxing,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I was proud of the way that we stayed together amidst any kind of adversity. Even when we were giving up some buckets I felt like we were locked in and together and could figure out a way to get stops.”

Colorado was without their leading scorer Aaronette Vonleh for the final five minutes of the game. She fouled out with 18 points and was one of five Buffs in double-figures. Quay Miller had 12 points, along with 11 each from Jaylyn Sherrod, Kindyll Wetta, and Maddie Nolan off the bench. 

This marks the third straight loss for the Buffaloes, who are expected to fall again in Monday's AP top 25 poll. They split the season series with the Trojans after taking a 63-59 win at CU Event Center last month. 

Colorado will look to take care of business at UCLA before trying to pull off a season sweep at home against the Washington schools to end the regular season.