COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — In a gripping matchup, the No. 4 USC Trojans outplayed No. 8 Maryland Terrapins, concluding a successful East Coast trip with a 79-74 victory on Wednesday night. This win handed Maryland its first loss of the season.

JuJu Watkins led the Trojans, scoring 21 points despite facing challenges, including fouling out in the final minute. Watkins stated, “We’ve been on the East Coast now for like four days. It’s freezing,” which perhaps contributed to her shooting difficulties (7 for 19) and eight turnovers. Meanwhile, Kiki Iriafen matched her score, contributing critical baskets down the stretch, including a three-point play that gave USC a 75-72 lead with just over a minute left to play.

Maryland, boasting a record of 14-1 before this game, struggled in crucial moments after leading by seven points in the fourth quarter. Shyanne Sellers scored 26 points for the Terps, yet they could not capitalize during the final moments, shooting only 36.5% from the field in the game.

USC completed a dominant performance on their trip, having defeated Rutgers 92-42 earlier in the week. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb remarked on the varying dynamics of playing in the Big Ten compared to the Pac-12, noting, “It’s really different for us, and so as coaches we’re trying to process all that and keep things as normalized as possible for the team.” This trip was particularly special as it marked the first encounter between USC and Maryland since 1995, attracting a crowd of 14,735 fans.

Maryland struggled significantly from beyond the arc, hitting only 2 of 14 three-point attempts, while USC's defensive strategies were effective in halting Maryland's scoring runs. The victory positions USC with an impressive record of 15-1 in their inaugural season as part of the Big Ten.

Next, Maryland will face Wisconsin on Saturday, while USC returns home to challenge Penn State on Sunday.

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