JuJu Watkins posted 27 points and 10 rebounds and No. 3 Southern California survived a second-half comeback by No. 20 Ole Miss, earning a 68-66 win on Monday in Paris, France.
USC made its last 17 free throws, the last two by Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen with nine seconds left for the final margin. Iriafen finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Watkins added five blocks, four assists, three steals and a whopping nine turnovers.
The Trojans had two critical offensive rebounds in the final minute to survive going the final 8 minutes, 47 seconds without a field goal. Ole Miss rallied after trailing 43-28 with 8:23 left in the third quarter, taking advantage of the Trojans' poor 3-point shooting (1 for 11) and turnover trouble (26). KK Deans scored 19 to lead the Rebels before fouling out on the play that sent Iriafen to the line for the decisive points.
No. 5 UCLA 66, No. 17 Louisville 59 Lauren Betts recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks as the Bruins staved off the Cardinals in Paris, France.
UCLA led 32-29 at halftime and 50-46 after three quarters. Isla Juffermans made a jumper to cut the deficit to 50-48 before the Bruins rattled off 11 of the next 14 points. Betts had the final four points of that surge, with her layup giving UCLA its largest lead at 61-51 with 4:02 to play.
Timea Gardiner put up 15 points and Londynn Jones had 13 for the Bruins. Tajianna Roberts finished with 21 points for Louisville to lead all scorers, while Jaleah Williams h.
