Michigan
Michigan women run out of gas, fall to No. 2 USC in Big Ten semifinal
Indianapolis — Kiki Iriafen scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half Saturday, JuJu Watkins added 20 points and each pulled down 11 rebounds to send No. 2 Southern California past fifth-seeded Michigan, 82-70, and into the Big Ten championship game.
The Trojans (28-2) will face either No. 4 UCLA or No. 13 Ohio State on Sunday. USC won the league’s regular season by sweeping the two-game series against the Bruins. The Trojans also won their only contest against the Buckeyes this season.
USC won its ninth straight despite Watkins, the league’s player of the year, having an off night. Iriafen made 10 of 19 shots.
Syla Swords finished with 26 points and Olivia Olson added 13 points and nine rebounds to lead the Wolverines (22-10).
USC trailed 31-29 at halftime but turned the game when Iriafen scored eight straight points late in the third quarter to give the Trojans a 50-48 lead. They closed it out with a 16-2 run midway through the fourth.