USC's Watkins reaches 1,000 points in 38th game

LOS ANGELES -- USC's JuJu Watkins reached 1,000 career points in her 38th game -- two quicker than former Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark -- during the second half against Santa Clara on Friday.

The sophomore guard achieved the milestone when she hit a jumper with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter for the third-ranked Trojans.

Watkins tied the fourth-fewest games needed to reach 1,000 points in NCAA Division I history. She is tied with Delaware's Elena Delle Donne as the fastest to reach the mark in the last 40 seasons.

LSU's Maree Jackson (1975-77), Oregon State's Carol Menken (1978-80) and New Orleans' Sandra Hodge (1980-82) all reached the mark in 37 games.

Weber State's Kathy Miller and Delle Donne also did it in 38 games. Former Ohio State standout Kelsey Mitchell did it in 41 games and Texas A&M's Chennedy Carter in 44.

Watkins set the national record for scoring by a freshman last season with 920 points. She is the 31st player in USC history to reach 1,000 points.

Cheryl Miller, who is USC's career scoring leader at 3,018 points, reached 1,000 in 48 games.

Watkins finished Friday's game with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. She and teammate Kiki Iriafen each scored 20 points or more for the second time this season, making them the only duo in Division I to each score 20 points in the same game multiple times this season.

USC won 81-50 to improve to 4-0.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.