USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb spelled out her game plan, watched her players execute with ruthless precision and then celebrated her 300th career victory at Galen Center Tuesday, calling the chance to lead the dominant Trojans “the honor of my lifetime.”
JuJu Watkins had 21 points, nine assists and six steals to help No. 3 USC trounce Cal State Northridge 124-39. The 124 points set a program record.
The Trojans (3-0) had six players in double figures, including Kiki Iriafen with 15 points and Kayleigh Heckel with 14 points off the bench. All 13 Trojans who played scored.
Laini Dahlin scored 11 points and Erika Aspajo added 10 for the Matadors (2-1).
Gottlieb’s players waved “300” signs, celebrating with cake and confetti after the win.
“The day I graduated college, I was 21 years old and I got my first job offer to coach basketball,” Gottlieb said during a locker room speech to her players released by USC. “And I’ve been coaching basketball every single day for my professional life.
“There has not been one single day that I haven’t thought at one time, I can’t believe I get paid to do this. I’ve been sad, I’ve been mad, I’ve been happy, I’ve been everything in between, but always, always grateful.”
After eking out a two-point win over then-No. 20 Mississippi in Paris to open the season, the Trojans blew out their second straight opponent, having routed Cal Poly by 55 points last week. Their path gets a lot tougher when No. 6 Notre Dame visits on Nov. 23.
USC essentially won the game from the opening tip. The Trojans outscored the Matadors 30-6 in the first quarter and then gave up just seven points in the second quarter to lead 60-13 at halftime.
“I thought tonight we kept our foot on the gas defensively,” Gottlieb said. “We tried to compete against the details of the game. We pushed the ball, we moved the ball, we shot it well, so I’m happy for our players to see the ball go in. … It was just a fun night.”
The Matadors committed 43 turnovers, which led to 63 points for the Trojans. Erica Adams had 10 miscues and Nnenna Orji had seven.
“I think obviously the goal is to be disruptive and that’s something that we talk about a lot,” said guard Talia von Oelhoffen, who had 13 points, three steals and one block. “… It allows us to play in transition and get our offense going.”
Northridge is in the middle of a four-game road trip, with the two remaining games in California, under first-time coach Angie Ned. Despite many new players, they have seven upperclassmen on the roster who will be counted on to provide leadership.
USC hosts Santa Clara (2-0) on Friday.