With a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double, Iriafen was pivotal in generating the momentum the top-seeded Trojans rode in the final five minutes to pull away from what was ultimately a down-to-the-wire contest.

Kiki Iriafen leads the top-seeded Trojans with 25 points and 11 rebounds in an 82-70 victory over the fifth-seeded Wolverines

Indianapolis — Kiki Iriafen scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half Saturday, JuJu Watkins added 20 points and each pulled down 11 rebounds to send No. 2 Southern California past fifth-seeded Michigan, 82-70, and into the Big Ten championship game.

In the end, Michigan just ran out of gas. Playing their third game in as many days, the Wolverines hung tough with top-seeded USC for three quarters Saturday before falling 82-70 in the Big Ten women’s tournament semifinals.

Michigan was neck-and-neck with USC all game, but the Trojans' went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter that sunk the Wolverines.

The No. 2 USC Trojans play in the Big Ten Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines. Saturday's meeting is the first of the season for the teams.