INDIANAPOLIS — JuJu Watkins scored 31 points, Kiki Iriafen added 21 and each grabbed 10 rebounds in their first Big Ten Tournament games, leading No. 2 Southern California to an 84-79 victory over Indiana on Friday in Indianapolis.
The Trojans (27-2) have now won all three games they’ve played in Indiana this season and will take an eight-game winning streak into Saturday’s semifinal contest against either fourth-seeded Maryland or fifth-seeded Michigan.
Yarden Garzon had 23 points to lead the Hoosiers (19-12), making five of her six baskets from 3-point range. She also had eight rebounds and Shay Ciezki added 15 points as Indiana’s two-game winning streak ended.
It looked as if the Trojans may pull away when they used a 13-4 run to take a 55-48 lead late in the third quarter, but Indiana charged back within 59-57 entering the fourth. USC pulled away again with a 9-3 spurt to make it 71-63 with 5:15 to play.
The Hoosiers never recovered.
Big Ten Tournament
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
(12) Washington 79, (13) Minnesota 65
(10) Nebraska 84, (15) Rutgers 60
(11) Iowa 81, (14) Wisconsin 54
(9) Indiana 78, (8) Oregon 62
(5) Michigan 66, Washington 58
(10) Nebraska 74, (7) Illinois 70
(11) Iowa 74, (6) Michigan State 61
Friday’s quarterfinals
(1) USC 84, (9) Indiana 79
(4) Maryland vs. (5) Michigan, 1:30 p.m., BTN
(2) UCLA vs. (10) Nebraska, 5:30 p.m., BTN
(3) Ohio State vs. (11) Iowa, 8 p.m., BTN
Saturday’s semifinals
2 and 4:30 p.m., BTN
Sunday’s final
3:30 p.m., CBS-2