USC Women Advance to Elite Eight With Gritty Win Over Kansas State

Freshmen Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell stepped up to lead the Trojans past Kansas State, overcoming the absence of star JuJu Watkins.

USC defeated Kansas State 67-61 in the Sweet 16 to secure a spot in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
Freshmen Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell combined for 37 points, with Smith scoring 19 and Howell adding 18, including key free throws in the final minutes.
The Trojans' defense forced 16 turnovers and limited Kansas State to 5-of-16 shooting from three-point range, compensating for offensive struggles.
Kiki Iriafen, USC's second-leading scorer, was held to just seven points on poor shooting, while Rayah Marshall contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
USC will face No. 2 seed UConn in the Elite Eight, a significant test against a powerhouse program coming off a dominant win over Oklahoma.