Ryan Kartje (LA Times)  —  Roars rained down from each corner of Pauley Pavilion, every soul in the hallowed hoops arena knowing full well the outcome of the crosstown showdown and the conference title that came with it rested squarely on her shoulders. Some in cardinal and gold waited for deliverance, as if it was assured for USC. Others in light blue prayed for divine intervention, understanding little else could save UCLA.

The feeling — of a whole arena hanging on her every move — is so familiar to JuJu Watkins. When she airballed a third-quarter jumper, the superstar sophomore could only brightly smile as the crowd let her hear it, reminding her every time she touched the ball. “I love the atmosphere here, even though they’re not on our side at all. I think that’s really fun,” said Watkins.

The truth, she knew, was their jeers could only fuel her fire. She has survived her share of crucibles already at USC. But never before in her two sensational seasons here had a conference title come attached.

It had been 31 years, in fact, since USC had earned a regular-season conference crown. That title, in 1994, arrived more than a decade before Watkins was born.

Decades from now, this title, USC’s first in the Big Ten, will be remembered for Watkins’ imprint on it. After a 38-point performance in these teams’ memorable first meeting, Watkins poured in 30 more Saturday night, as No. 4 USC started fast with an early 9-0 scoring run and crushed No. 2 UCLA 80-67 on its way to a conference championship.

Coach Lindsay Gottlieb reiterated that it took more than just Watkins to reach these heights. Kiki Iriafen bounced back from early foul trouble to score 17 points, 15 in the second half. Avery Howell hit two backbreaking three-pointers late. And Rayah Marshall (below) was the glue that bound it all together on offense, with six points, six rebounds and five assists. All of them, in their own ways, had been essential to a sparkling 27-2 season.

“We needed everybody,” Gottlieb said.

But it was Watkins whom the whole arena rightfully honed in on, begging her to make a misstep that might open the door. She had scored 30 or more points three times against the Bruins, after all, the last an especially stellar showcase a little more than two weeks ago.

“I think I’d be remiss to say that playing UCLA doesn’t motivate me extra,” Watkins said.

USC guard JuJu Watkins celebrates with teammates during a dominating victory over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night. (Mark J. Terrill / AP)

The chaotic cacophony of the fans reached a crescendo late in the third quarter with Watkins on the foul line. Pummeled as she soared toward contact in the paint, Watkins hobbled to the stripe and missed two free throws.

The crowd, which Watkins later called “unbelievable,” exploded with anticipation. UCLA had whittled USC’s lead to four points. Now was the time to strike. Kiki Rice, who led all Bruins scorers with 16, let a three-pointer fly, hoping to capitalize.

It clanked away. And from there, USC simply couldn’t be stopped, even as all five starting players were in foul trouble.

“USC, they were tougher and more disciplined and they did their jobs. We weren’t as tough and we didn’t do our jobs,” UCLA coach Cori Close said as she pounded her fist on the postgame press conference table.

Fighting through contact, she shot just 10 for 24 across two games against the Trojans. On Saturday she committed three traveling violations, her frustration building with each whistle.

“We can throw multiple bodies at her,” Gottlieb said. “And then we also have the athleticism to say we want to make her touches tough but not give up wide-open threes.”

Indeed, those wide-open threes never came for UCLA. Watkins was the only one to unleash a torrent from deep, hitting four in the first half alone — one fewer than the Bruins had in the game.

JuJu Watkins blocks a shot by UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez during the first half Saturday. (Mark J. Terrill / AP)

Watkins again looked unstoppable out of the gate. On her first touch, she stepped up confidently to the three-point line and sunk a shot from deep. By the end of the quarter, Watkins had 13 points. She scored 10 more before halftime, while Iriafen sat with three fouls.

“The amount of attention she gets, the scrutiny, the positives — it’s a lot,” Gottlieb said of USC’s star. “But the ability to focus and say, ‘What do I need to do for me to be at my best and do what the team needs to do to win?’ That’s the mental aspect.”

That laser focus finally let up in the final minutes, with USC extending its lead to as many as 20.

When Watkins checked out and the celebration started, she skipped over within view of the UCLA student section. She held up four fingers, only to slam them down, offering her own reminder that this was her moment, USC’s moment.

At midcourt, in front of a hostile crowd, the Trojans first lifted their coach — then their Big Ten trophy, the second for the school in the new conference. But the real joy didn’t come out until they were in the locker room, where they danced, splashed water from bottles and threw confetti.

It was just the sort of scene Gottlieb dreamed of when she first took the job four years ago. That job, she says, isn’t done yet. The Big Ten tournament — and a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance — awaits.

But for one night there was no harm in stopping to recognize your most joyous moments, Gottlieb said, and the people who got you there.

“Because that,” Gottlieb said, “was as fun as it gets.”

Both teams have a brief rest until the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, which is slated for March 5-9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. After that, Selection Sunday is on March 16.

There is a chance that the two teams will meet in the conference or NCAA tournament. And Close is itching for another crack at the rivalry game this year.

“One hundred percent. Absolutely,” the Bruin coach railed. “Yes, bring it on. And if we don’t, there’s something bigger wrong. If anyone in our locker room would answer differently, don’t come back.”

latimes.com

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