JuJu Watkins has been going through a bit of a sophomore slump recently, and the timing is rough for USC. The Trojans are about to host No. 1 UCLA in their first Battle of Los Angeles as Big Ten opponents on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Top-ranked UCLA was seeing red at practice on Wednesday, with its scout team donning the colors of crosstown rival Southern California. The sixth-ranked Trojans’ fight song blared in the Bruins’ gym, too.

Beating the undefeated Bruins always was going to require more than JuJu Watkins willing the Trojans to victory. But make no mistake, USC is also going to need more from its star sophomore.

Ohio State, led by Taylor Thierry’s 14 points and Cotie McMahon’s 13, struggled to keep up, particularly after Thierry fouled out in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes were out-rebounded and failed to recover from the Trojans’ third-quarter surge.

How many points did JuJu Watkins score vs. Ohio State on Saturday? Here's how the Trojans women's basketball star performed against the Buckeyes.

Watkins and the sixth-ranked Trojans play host to No. 1 UCLA, the only unbeaten team in college basketball, on Thursday night.

USC Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins and senior forward Kiki Iriafen have been named to Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Watch Lis