TEMPE, ARIZ. — March 2nd, 2024

No. 7 USC capped off its most successful regular season in 30 years by closing out another road sweep with a 70-55 win over Arizona State today in Tempe. USC had 10 Trojans score in the win, which secured USC its 23rd win of the season along with the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament. For the second time this season, USC's JuJu Watkins and Rayah Marshall each finished with double-doubles. USC is now 23-5 overall with a 13-5 final Pac-12 mark. Arizona State is now 11-19, 3-15.

USC was shooting just under 40 percent in the first half to outpace ASU's 26 percent as the Trojans led it 39-26 by halftime. Seven different Trojans had scored for a balanced attack in those first 20 minutes, with JuJu Watkins providing 15 points while Rayah Marshall had hauled in 11 rebounds. USC was up 31-18 on the boards by the break. USC would stay the course to the win, finishing up at 40.6 percent and pulled in a season-high 54 rebounds. ASU wrapped at 32.8 percent shooting with 34 rebounds.

For the 25th time this season, USC was led in scoring by JuJu Watkins, who delivered 26 points along with 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double. Rayah Marshall also recorded a double-double — her 10th of the season — with 15 points and 15 rebounds. ASU received 17 points from Jalyn Brown and 16 from Trayanna Crisp.

JuJu Watkins generated a 6-0 run all her own, following up a three-point play with a smooth 3-pointer to take the Trojans to an early 9-2 lead. Watkins and Rayah Marshall would account for all of USC's scoring in the first frame, as USC led it 18-12 after 10 minutes with ASU landing a 3-pointer to end that frame. ASU hit a dry spell in the second, coming up empty from the floor for the first four minutes while USC rattled off a 9-0 run that featured the first points of the day from Kaitlyn Davis, Clarice Akunwafo and Dominique Darius as the Trojans built a 27-14 lead. ASU landed a three to break its silence, only to see USC's Taylor Bigby plant one of her own 20 seconds later. Bigby was one of seven Trojans to strike in the second quarter, and USC would lead it 39-26 for halftime.

USC wrapped a pair of 6-0 surges around a Sun Devil bucket to mount a 51-30 lead midway through the third, with Marshall working her way into a double-double for the 10th time this season along the way. ASU found a few late buckets, though, and it was a 55-39 USC lead entering the fourth. There, the teams would largely stay in stride, with Watkins getting to a double-double and fellow freshman Malia Samuels checking in as USC's 10th scorer on the day to help round out USC's final 70-55 victory.

NEXT:
USC now turns to action at the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, where the Trojans have secured the No. 2 seed to earn a first-round bye. USC will open competition on Thursday (March 7).

NOTABLE:
- USC had a season-high 54 rebounds.
- With 15 points and 15 rebounds, JR Rayah Marshall recorded her 10th double-double this season and the 30th of her career — tying for eighth most all-time by a Trojan.
- Marshall's five blocks tied her season high.
- With 26 points and 12 rebounds, FR JuJu Watkins recorded her sixth double-double this season.
- Watkins' 12 rebounds tied her career high.
- Now with 751 points this season, Watkins ranks No. 3 all-time in single-season scoring at USC.
- GS Kaitlyn Davis had a season-high three blocks.
- USC is now 20-1 overall when scoring over 65 points and 17-1 when outrebounding its opponent.
- With 10 scorers today, USC tied its season high.
- Watkins has now led USC in scoring in 25 of USC's 27 games.
- This was USC'S first road sweep of the Arizona schools since 2012-13.
- With 23 wins, USC has recorded its most regular-season victories since 1993-94.
- USC's No. 2 seed for the Pac-12 Tournament is its highest-ever seeding for the tourney (was seeded No. 3 in 2004, 2010 and 2012).
- At 13-5 in Pac-12 play, USC has collected its most conference win in a season since 1996-97.
- USC finishes Pac-12 play with a program record of six straight conference road wins.