The Associated Press
NASSAU, Bahamas — JuJu Watkins scored 31 points, including the last seven points of the game plus a half-court buzzer beater, and No. 8 Southern California pulled out a 71-70 win over Penn State at the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in the Bahamas on Wednesday night.
The Trojans (5-0) led by eight early in the fourth quarter when Penn State (5-1) scored 14-straight points with five different players scoring for a 68-64 lead with 3:11 to play.
Watkins ended a 6¢-minute drought that included seven-consecutive misses, with a layup with two minutes to go. She quickly followed with a 3-pointer and then put the Trojans back on top, the 15th lead change, with a split-the-defense layup 30 seconds left.
Penn State was called for traveling 10 seconds later but the Trojans threw away the in-bounds. The Nittany Lions’ Shay Ciezdki’s missed a short jumper to end it.
Watkins also had 12 rebounds for the freshman’s first double-double. Rayah Marshall had 11 points and 10 rebounds for her 23rd career double-double.
Ciezki had 18 points for the Nittany Lions and Makenna Marisa and Kylie Lavelle both had 10.
Watkins, who had 13 points and nine boards at the break, hit a half-court buzzer-beating 3 to put the Trojans on top 35-34.
Watkins scored 11 points, seven from the foul line, in the third quarter and the Trojans took a 59-54 lead into the fourth quarter.
Penn State goes home to play Providence on Sunday.
USC (5-0): Marshall 4-11 3-4 11, Bigby 2-6 0-0 6, Forbes 2-6 1-2 6, Padilla 3-5 0-0 9, Watkins 9-20 11-14 31, Makolo 0-1 0-0 0, Onu 2-7 1-2 5, Samuels 1-1 0-0 3, Totals 23-57 16-22 71
PENN STATE (5-1): Pinto 2-3 2-2 6, Brigham 3-3 1-2 7, Ciezki 6-15 4-6 18, Kapinus 3-8 1-1 7, Marisa 3-14 4-4 10, Lavelle 4-8 0-0 10, Murray 0-1 0-0 0, Oden 2-6 1-2 6, Valladay 3-6 0-0 6, Totals 26-64 13-17 70
SCORE BY QUARTERS
USC 17 18 24 12 — 71
Penn State 21 13 20 16 — 70
3-Point Goals–Southern Cal 9-18 (Bigby 2-5, Forbes 1-3, Padilla 3-4, Watkins 2-4, Onu 0-1, Samuels 1-1), Penn St. 5-16 (Ciezki 2-5, Kapinus 0-2, Marisa 0-1, Lavelle 2-4, Murray 0-1, Oden 1-3). Assists–Southern Cal 8 (Watkins 3), Penn St. 8 (Ciezki 3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds–Southern Cal 37 (Watkins 12), Penn St. 34 (Ciezki 7). Total Fouls–Southern Cal 16, Penn St. 19. Technical Fouls–Penn St. Kapinus 1. A–297.
