USC guard JuJu Watkins, right, drives as Cal State Northridge guard Erika Aspajo defends during the second half on Tuesday night at the Galen Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Show Caption1 of 1USC guard JuJu Watkins, right, drives as Cal State Northridge guard Erika Aspajo defends during the second half on Tuesday night at the Galen Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
ExpandLOS ANGELES — A serious mismatch produced a predictable outcome and a milestone for USC women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb.
JuJu Watkins had 21 points, nine assists and six steals as third-ranked USC trounced Cal State Northridge, 124-39, on Tuesday night at the Galen Center, giving Gottlieb her 300th career victory.
The Trojans (3-0) had six players score in double figures, including Kiki Iriafen with 15 points and Kayleigh Heckel with 14 points off the bench. All 13 Trojans who played scored, as the team set a single-game program record with its point total.
Gottlieb’s players waved “300” signs after the game and jumped up and down around her.
USC essentially won the game from the opening tip. The Trojans outscored the Matadors 30-6 in the first quarter and then allowed just seven points in the second quarter to lead 60-13 at halftime.
The Matadors committed 43 turnovers, which led to a staggering 63 points for the Trojans. Erica Adams had 10 turnovers and Nnenna Orji had seven.
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 (SLO) by 55 points last week. Their path gets a lot tougher later this month when No. 6 Notre Dame visits.
Laini Dahlin scored 11 points and Erika Aspajo added 10 for the Matadors (2-1), who are in the middle of a four-game stretch of away games under first-time head coach Angie Ned.
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USC hosts Santa Clara on Friday at noon.
CSUN visits Fresno State on Nov. 22.