Kayla Padilla’s threes push USC to double-OT win over Arizona

Kayla Padilla hit a tying three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation and made another key three in the second overtime, lifting No. 7 USC to a 95-93 win over Arizona on Thursday night.

The Wildcats (16-13, 8-9 Pac-12) were blown out by USC less than a month ago, but used a big run to take a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans (22-5, 12-5) fought back despite star freshman sensation JuJu Watkins fouling out, scoring five points in the final 16 seconds to force overtime. Kaitlyn Davis hit a jumper after an offensive rebound and Padilla hit a tying three-pointer with 7.6 seconds left after two more offensive boards.

Neither team could take control until Padilla hit a corner three to put USC up 92-89 in the second overtime. Helena Pueyo made two free throws with 6.3 seconds left to pull the Wildcats within 94-93 and Rayah Marshall hit 1 of 2 free throws.

Arizona’s Jada Williams had a good look at the buzzer, but her three clanged off the back of the rim.

Marshall led USC with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Watkins had 20 before fouling out with just under two minutes left in regulation.

Pueyo had 21 points and Skylar Jones added 19 points to lead Arizona.

USC made 11 threes in the teams’ first meeting, an 81-64 win in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Arizona was a different team early in its final Pac-12 game against USC at McKale Center, buoyed by the home crowd and its first sweep of the Pac-12’s Bay Area schools since 2001 last week.

Feeding off the energy, the Wildcats swarmed USC early and took a 33-31 lead into halftime.

Big picture

USC: The Trojans struggled to find much of an offensive rhythm against Arizona until late and pulled out a gutty win with its star freshman watching from the bench.

Arizona: The Wildcats appeared to be in position to pull off a second top-10 victory in a week. Arizona faded late in regulation to allow USC to tie it and couldn’t make the key plays down the stretch in the second overtime.

Up next for USC: at Arizona State on Saturday.