UCLA Women’s Basketball Achieves Historic Victory
In a commanding performance, the No. 2 UCLA women’s basketball team secured a 73-50 victory against Southern California on Sunday, achieving an impressive milestone by finishing the Big Ten regular season undefeated for the first time in over a decade. With this win, the Bruins proudly matched the 18-0 record previously set by Maryland during the 2014-15 season, marking a significant achievement in the program’s history.
Key Performers
With a season-high of 20 points, Charlisse Leger-Walker led UCLA, while teammates Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens contributed 14 points each to the scoring effort. Lauren Betts showcased her versatility with five points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, demonstrating the Bruins’ depth.
Looking Ahead
This victory allows UCLA, which boasts an overall record of 28-1 and 18-0 in the conference, to head into the NCAA tournament on a high note. They have not suffered a defeat since a loss to then-No. 4 Texas back on November 26. Earlier in the day, the selection committee listed UCLA among the top four No. 1 seeds for the upcoming women’s NCAA Tournament, though UConn edged them out as the top overall seed.
USC’s Struggles
Despite the loss, the Trojans, now at 17-12 overall and 9-9 in conference play, tried to mount a comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to nine points before UCLA pulled away again. Freshman Jazzy Davidson shone for USC with 12 points while Kennedy Smith added 11. Unfortunately, the Trojans have now lost three consecutive games and struggled throughout the season, particularly without star player JuJu Watkins, who is currently sidelined due to a knee injury sustained last season. This showdown marked a stark contrast to the previous year, when USC triumphed over UCLA to clinch the conference title.
Defensive Dominance
The Bruins demonstrated their dominance in rebounding, outpacing USC 47-22, including a remarkable 22-5 advantage on the offensive boards. Furthermore, the defensive effort forced 15 turnovers from USC, converting those into 20 points.
Upcoming Competitions
Looking ahead, UCLA is set to compete in the Big Ten Tournament as the top seed in Indianapolis this Friday, while USC will participate on Wednesday or Thursday, seeking to turn their fortunes around in the postseason.
