Juju Watkins shines in USC's victory over Paige Bueckers and UConn as college basketball stars square off
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Juju Watkins spearheaded USC's valiant effort to beat Paige Bueckers' UConn team as the nation tuned in to one of college basketball's biggest showdowns. On Saturday night, No 7 USC emerged over fourth-ranked UConn, 72-70, despite blowing an 18-point lead in the second half, thanks to Watkins' 25 points.
![[Bueckers scored 22 points as the Huskies came back from an 18-point deficit on Saturday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/05/93396113-14218383-image-a-77_1734846134281.jpg)
On the other hand, Bueckers finished the game with 22 points. The pair of All-Americans guarded each other for most of the contest, a rematch of last season's Elite Eight matchup, which UConn won to advance. With the game tied at 67 and 1:21 remaining, Watkins found teammate Rayah Marshall who gave USC a lead with a layup. After a crucial miss by the Huskies, Watkins was fouled with 31 seconds left.
While a miss on her first free throw had fans holding their breath, Watkins secured the second free throw to give the Trojans a 70-67 lead. Juju Watkins shined with 25 points in USC's valiant effort to beat Paige Bueckers and UConn. JuJu Watkins with the BLOCK on Paige Bueckers, the crossover, plus the bucket 🔥pic.twitter.com/2QDZNhkDJf.
Bueckers scored 22 points as the Huskies came back from an 18-point deficit on Saturday. Seconds later, UConn's Sarah Strong scored a basket to cut the lead to one after the Huskies rallied out of a 51-33 deficit in the third quarter. Watkins' free throw shooting became the dagger as she returned to the charity stripe and made both attempts with 19.5 seconds remaining.
