rutlandherald
LAS VEGAS (AP) — JuJu Watkins marked her return to the court with 21 points after sitting out last season due to an ACL injury, and freshman Saniyah Hall contributed 22 points in her first college game as No. 3 Southern California overwhelmed UNLV 100-68 on Monday.
Jazzy Davidson led all scorers with 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting for the Trojans. Hall also filled the stat sheet with seven rebounds and seven assists. Kennedy Smith added 12 points and Sitaya Fagan chipped in 11, giving USC five players in double figures. Watkins, who played 25 minutes, grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists.
For UNLV, Maia Rosarion scored 12 points and Jayla Constant had 10. Meadow Roland pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for the Lady Rebels, who held a 40-35 rebounding edge.
Watkins scored 11 points in a decisive third quarter in which USC outscored UNLV 31-10, turning a 52-39 halftime lead into an 83-49 advantage. The Trojans made 14 of 20 shots in the period while limiting the Lady Rebels to 3-for-16 shooting. Hall scored seven points and Davidson added six in the third, with both making all three of their field-goal attempts. UNLV missed all five of its 3-point tries and went without a field goal over the final 4:14 of the quarter.
USC shot 58.8% overall and held a 52-24 advantage in points in the paint. The Trojans forced 24 turnovers, converting them into 32 points, and recorded 13 steals.
Hall scored nine points in the first quarter as USC built a 29-15 lead. UNLV outscored the Trojans 24-23 in the second quarter, making four of six 3-pointers before USC pulled away after halftime.
Up next, UNLV hosts UTSA on Friday, while USC hosts Utah State on Sunday.
Originally reported by rutlandherald.