In moments of retreat from the worst half of them in USCand Jojo Watkins Put her head down and head to her left with everything she was. He bent in connection, then suddenly jumped again and left the bold bird to fly.
Nine times missed – from the corridor, from the medium range, from the corner – without one bucket. This was the same star of Trojan horses, which recorded less than 20 points only twice this season. But although the silk sequence, as the sequence, seemed, like a stagnation from Watskins-was the back of the back, and the bell rings on a half-familiar star versus one of the brightest basketball stars in the college.
Watskins looked at the results board, at a loss, as if he was asking an answer.
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Fortunately for the number 4, the answers you need on Thursday found, even with the inability of Watskins to provide its usual resounding performance. A star turns from Trojan horses forward Kiki IRIAFENIn addition to the timely contributions of its fleet of talented beginners, it was a lot to put Minnesota away 82-69Giving USC victory 15 in a row.
This victory was not – in the first USC match at home in 18 days – smoothly like others. For Watskins in particular, every step looked like a conflict early.
“She is dealing with her shoulders,” said coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “So I think everyone wants to allow her to be her.”
But this was not Watskins that USC used to. Her touch was intrusive. Its engines are thwarted to the collar. The open shots refused to fall. Watckens fought through the recession in the second half, hitting seven of 14 of the field. But the release of its 29 % shooting is the least efficient in two seasons in USC (19-1, 9-0 Big Ten).
Watsenz was still able to register 20, 18 of which came in the second half. But her frustration, especially through the first Subper 20 minutes, was clear on her face.
“She is a very harsh person and a basketball player,” said Gottlieb. It finds a way at some point to know that. I think if you miss five in a row, then the next five enter. “
Watskins’ struggles were not the only setback that USC had to overcome. The great striker Raya Marshall, the leading founder at the University of Southern California, was excluded due to an injury before Tebov, leaving the University of Southern California at home.
With Watkins and Marshall struggling, IRIAFEN was also one of the best players in this sport. With Minnesota, she focused on Watkins, IRIAFEN finished 23 points, 11 rebounds and three decisive passes, seventh dual in her most firm game as Trojan.
The striker started during the past week to expand its match, after spent a hesitant season to allow him to fly from three points. I only manufactured only two of three pomegranate in its previous 19 matches.
Gottlieb insisted this week that IRIAFEN trusts in a stroke and ocean test, especially with the defenses of the defenses to paint to stop Watkins. So IRIAFEN fired from the inauguration of the opening minutes, which drowned a triple indication, then another in the next possession, adding a completely new dimension to a already destroyed crime.
“It is a pivotal point in the defenses of the teams,” said Gottlieb. I got it. It is one of the best players in the country. “
The focal point of USC turned early and often on Thursday. IRIIAFEN came alive in extensions, before Watercins bounced. Even Affiri Haul’s student was necessary, as she hit four of three throws from 3 of USC to give her 30 common points during the last two games.
However, Minnesota (18-4, 6-4) was well stuck in the fourth quarter. The GoPhers team, who did not reduce, reduced six points with less than eight minutes. But then, Huil sank in time three. And on the next possession, Watercins led to the collar.
She shook one defender before lifting it towards the basket. She was stumbling. After a night of the defeated edges and the players of the USC star, the unlikely flag was found to be the bottom of the network, and the Trojan horses searched another victory, this time, despite the struggles of their star.
This story was originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
