Trojans’ grit shows they’re not one-star team in ‘character win’
Padilla hits clutch threes at the end of regulation and the second overtime.
TUCSON — USC lost its star player, but not its composure.
Kayla Padilla hit a tying three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation, made another key three in the second overtime and No. 7 USC rallied after freshman JuJu Watkins fouled out to beat Arizona 95-93.
“It’s a character win and it’s defining because we’re trying to become an elite team nationally, and we know that’s about more than one or two players,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
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, 12-5) fought back despite Watkins fouling out with 1:41 left left in regulation, scoring five points in the final 16 seconds to force overtime. Kaitlyn Davis hit a jumper after an offensive rebound on a missed free throw and Padilla hit a tying threepointer with 7.6 seconds left after two more offensive boards.
“She’s self less in an unbelievable way, but doesn’t lack confidence,” Gottlieb said Thursday night. “She plays her role, doesn’t hunt shots, but hits the big ones when we need them.”
Neither team could take control until Padilla hit a corner three 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 to within 94-93 and Rayah Marshall hit one of two free throws.
Arizona’s Jada Williams had a good look at the buzzer, but her three attempt clanged off the back of the rim.
Marshall led USC with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Watkins had 20 before fouling out. Padilla had 15 points on five-of-seven shooting from three-point range.
Pueyo had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to lead undermanned Arizona. Skylar Jones added 19 points.
“I think it was after the first overtime, every single player was eating gummies — they needed sugar and energy they were playing so hard,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes said. “They gave everything for me. I’m proud of them.”
USC made 11 threes in the teams’ first meeting, an 81-64 win at Galen Center on Feb. 12.
Arizona was a different team early in its final Pac-12 game against USC at McKale Center, coming off its first sweep of the Pac-12’s Bay Area schools since 2001 and buoyed by the home crowd.
Feeding off the energy, the Wildcats swarmed USC early, allowed the Trojans to claw back and took a 33-31 lead into halftime.
“They put so much pressure on you,” Gottlieb said. “They do a great job of that and I thought later in the game we were more aggressive in getting to the paint and making the right reads.”
Offensive boards
The Trojans have a big front line and used it to their advantage against Arizona, racking up fouls and offensive rebounds.
USC had an 18-9 edge in offensive rebounds and scored 18 second-chance points — none bigger than the five in the final seconds of regulation.
Arizona also had two players foul out.
“The fouls and the offensive rebounds are the difference,” Barnes said. “They had 18 offensive rebounds and 50 points in the paint. That’s the game right there and we shot a good percentage.”