Los Angeles, California – JuJu Watkins continues to make history in her impressive freshman season in women’s college basketball.
In a thrilling Elite Eight matchup against UConn, Watkins broke Tina Hutchinson’s record for the highest-scoring freshman season in Division I women’s college basketball. With a deep 3-pointer in the second quarter, she surpassed Hutchinson’s 898 points in the 1983-84 season, reaching an impressive 899 points.
Having already claimed the single-season scoring record for USC by surpassing Cheryl Miller, Watkins is now setting her sights on Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s overall first-year record of 965 points set in 1988-89. With an average of 27.0 points per game, along with 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks, Watkins has proven to be a force on the court.
Watkins leads the nation with a usage rate of 42.8 percent and also tops the country in free-throw attempts. Her ability to draw fouls and convert them with an 84.7 percent accuracy has been a crucial aspect of her offensive game.
Throughout her freshman season, Watkins has garnered numerous accolades, including all-Pac-12 honors, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and a spot on the Pac-12 all-defensive team. She has also been recognized as a first-team All-American by the AP and U.S. Basketball Writers Association, earning the latter’s Freshman of the Year award.
Not only has Watkins excelled individually, but she has also played a pivotal role in leading USC to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1994. A victory over UConn would propel them to the Final Four for the first time since 1986, showcasing Watkins’ impact on the team’s success.
With each game, JuJu Watkins continues to etch her name in the annals of women’s college basketball history, solidifying her status as a standout player to watch in the sport.