LOS ANGELES − JuJu Watkins injured her knee minutes into USC’s women’s March Madness game against Mississippi State and will not return.

Watkins was on a fast break with just under five minuets to go when she became entangled with a Mississippi State player. She immediately went down, grabbed her right knee and was visibly in pain. A foul was called on Mississippi State’s Chandler Prater.

Medical staff came to assist as the crowd inside the Galen Center went silent. Watkins was carried off the court and she did not put any weight on her knee. The Trojans were ahead 13-2 at the time of the injury.

Referees reviewed the play for any potential flagrant call, but it was determined to be a common foul. USC fans were audibly upset and have booed the Bulldogs for the majority of the game since Watkin’s injury.

JuJu Watkins knee injury

ESPN’s Holly Rowe said on the broadcast USC’s athletic director Jennifer Cohen left the stands to go check in on Watkins. Rowe later said Watkins has left the building for further testing.

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“There is not an MRI machine here at the GC, so we did see JuJu Watkins being wheeled out of the building,” Rowe said on the broadcast. “We’re believing she’s being, going to a tech medical center for further MRI imaging. You can only do so much with a manual ligament test.”

USC confirmed Watkins will not return to Monday’s contest.

Watkins’ injury comes after she had a scare in the opening round matchup against UNC Greensboro. She took a fall in the second quarter and had a taped up wrist and fingers, but she later twisted her ankle on a drive to the basket. She hobbled and stayed in the game before she exited with a trainer. She later returned to the bench and got back in action.

USC head coach comments on JuJu Watkins injury

Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb spoke about Watkins’ injury on the ESPN broadcast.

“She’s getting seen by our great medical team. And just that we have a group and a fanbase and a team that’s going to have her back no matter what. She gives this community and all of us so much, so we’ve got her back, no matter what it is,” she said.

“It’s obviously talking about the Xs and Os, and what we need to do to win this game. And we have great confidence that we can keep the foot on the gas and go.”

Malia Samuels injury

The Trojans had another injury scare in the second quarter when guard Malia Samuels took some hard contact on a layup attempt. She appeared to hit her shoulder and head on the court. Medical staff came to assists her and she appeared to say she was fine. She went back to the locker room and came back into the game a few minutes later.

(This story will be updated with more information.)