"Top-Seeded USC Women's Basketball Succumbs to 80-73 Defeat Against UConn in NCAA Elite Eight."

 "Top-Seeded USC Women's Basketball Succumbs to 80-73 Defeat Against UConn in NCAA Elite Eight."

PORTLAND, OREGON — Making their NCAA Elite Eight debut in three decades, the top-seeded USC women's basketball team faced off against a formidable UConn squad known for their sharpshooting. Unfortunately, the Trojans' remarkable season came to an end with an 80-73 defeat against the No. 3 seeded Huskies in the NCAA Regional Final held tonight in Portland, Oregon. USC initially took the lead, but UConn's accelerated pace, particularly highlighted by an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, proved insurmountable.

This season, the Trojans achieved their highest national ranking since 1986, securing the third spot in the country. Despite their loss, it was a historic journey for USC, marking their fourth-ever appearance in the Elite Eight. With a final record of 29-6, USC concludes its impressive 2023-24 campaign.

In the first half, the game between USC and UConn was marked by alternating runs, resulting in a halftime deadlock of 33-33. Both teams showcased competitive shooting percentages, with USC hitting 33% and UConn slightly ahead at 40% from the field during the initial 20 minutes of play. USC maintained a narrow lead on the boards, outrebounding UConn 21-19, while each team managed to sink three 3-pointers.

During the first half, USC displayed flawless accuracy from the free-throw line, going 8-for-8, contrasting with UConn's 4-of-5 effort from the stripe. As the game progressed, UConn's shooting prowess intensified, culminating in a final field goal percentage of 48.3% and a marginal lead in rebounds, 42-41.

Conversely, USC's shooting efficiency dipped, resulting in a final field goal percentage of 32.9%. Notably, this game marked USC's first loss of the season when scoring 70 or more points, highlighting the significance of their offensive performance in determining game outcomes.

Following the intense action, USC's JuJu Watkins, McKenzie Forbes, and Rayah Marshall earned spots on the Portland Region 3 All-Tournament team. JuJu Watkins led the Trojans with an impressive 29 points, setting a new national record for single-season scoring by a freshman with a total of 920 points in her inaugural year as a Trojan. Additionally, Watkins secured her eighth double-double of the season by grabbing 10 rebounds. Rayah Marshall also achieved a double-double, marking her 14th of the season and 34th of her career, contributing 11 points and 11 rebounds. McKenzie Forbes added to USC's offensive prowess with 24 points, including five successful 3-pointers.

On the opposing side, UConn's Paige Bueckers delivered a stellar performance with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Aaliyah Edwards contributed 24 points to the Huskies' efforts.

In the early stages of the game, a clutch 3-pointer by McKenzie Forbes gave the Trojans a narrow lead of 5-2. However, the Huskies quickly responded with a basket, bringing the score to 7-6. JuJu Watkins ignited an impressive 8-0 rally for USC with a well-executed jumper, extending their lead to 15-6 following successful three-point plays by Watkins and Forbes. UConn retaliated with a resilient 9-0 run, leveling the score at 15-15 with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. Nevertheless, Forbes managed to edge the Trojans ahead once again, closing the quarter with USC holding a slim 17-15 advantage.

The start of the second quarter proved challenging for USC as they struggled to convert their opportunities, allowing the Huskies to embark on an eight-point scoring spree, seizing their first lead of the game and establishing a 24-19 advantage four minutes into the quarter. However, Watkins intervened with a crucial 3-pointer, narrowing the deficit to 26-25 with 4:40 left on the clock. Despite UConn extending their lead to 31-25, USC showcased resilience as Rayah Marshall made a significant contribution with a score down low, followed by a steal and two successful free throws. Watkins further narrowed the margin by earning a trip to the free-throw line, tying the game at 33-33 just before halftime. Kaitlyn Davis then demonstrated defensive prowess by drawing a charge, ensuring the score remained deadlocked as the teams headed into halftime.

UConn commenced the second half with a formidable 8-0 surge, putting pressure on USC from the outset. Despite the Huskies' momentum, McKenzie Forbes managed to sink her third 3-pointer of the night, momentarily narrowing the deficit to 45-40 with 5:15 remaining. However, UConn responded swiftly, extending their lead to 52-40 by the 4:15 mark. Undeterred, the Trojans mounted a comeback, with JuJu Watkins converting a three-point play and Forbes calmly sinking two free throws, cutting the margin to 52-45 with 3:05 left on the clock.

The final minutes of the third quarter witnessed a flurry of action, as USC connected on 3-pointers from Taylor Bigby and Kayla Padilla, sandwiched around a Husky three-pointer. Padilla's shot just before the buzzer brought the score to 55-51 in favor of UConn heading into the fourth quarter.

Despite an early three-point play by UConn, USC continued to fight back. Watkins responded with a three-point play of her own, followed by a bucket from Watkins and a three-pointer from Forbes, leveling the score at 59-59 with 7:30 remaining. A back-and-forth ensued, with USC closing the gap to a one-point deficit at 65-64 thanks to a 4-0 run from Watkins. However, UConn mounted an 11-0 response, extending their lead to 76-64 with 1:25 left on the clock.

Forbes provided USC with a glimmer of hope with a clutch 3-pointer just under the minute mark, narrowing the gap to a nine-point game. Watkins then added two free throws, bringing the score to 76-69 with 47 seconds remaining. Despite UConn's struggles from the free-throw line, USC's efforts fell short in the final moments. Marshall's layup brought USC to 76-71 with 18 seconds left, but UConn's successful free throws secured their victory with a final score of 80-73.