Daily News (Los Angeles)

Padilla's big 3s lift Trojans to win at Arizona in two OTs

- By John Marshall

Kayla Padilla hit a tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation and made another key 3 in the second overtime, lifting No. 7 USC to a 95-93 win over Arizona on Thursday night.

The Wildcats (16-13, 8-9 Pac-12) were blown out by USC less than a month ago, but used a big run to take a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans (22-5, 125) fought back despite star freshman sensation JuJu Watkins fouling out, scoring five points in the final 16 seconds to force overtime. Kaitlyn Davis hit a jumper after an offensive rebound and Padilla hit a tying 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left after two more offensive boards.

Neither team could take control until Padilla hit a corner 3 to put USC up 92-89 in the second overtime. Helena Pueyo made two free throws with 6.3 seconds left to pull the Wildcats within 94-93 and Rayah Marshall hit 1 of 2 free throws.

Arizona's Jada Williams had a good look at the

TUCSON, ARIZ. >> THE SCORE

USC 95, ARIZONA 93, 2OT

Up next: USC at Arizona State, Saturday, 11 a.m., Pac-12 Network

buzzer, but her 3 clanged off the back of the rim.

Marshall led USC with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Watkins had 20 before fouling out with just under two minutes left in regulation.

Pueyo had 21 points and Skylar Jones added 19 points to lead Arizona.

USC made 11 3s in the teams' first meeting, an 8164 win in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Arizona was a different team early in its final Pac-12 game against USC at McKale Center, buoyed by the home crowd and its first sweep of the Pac-12's Bay Area schools since 2001 last week.

Feeding off the energy, the Wildcats swarmed USC early and took a 33-31 lead into halftime.

USC struggled to find much of an offensive rhythm against Arizona until late and pulled out a gutty win with its star freshman watching from the bench.

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