USC defeats UCLA in a heated game with a final score of 80-67, a second blemish on their undefeated record by USC.
USC (26-2, 17-1 in the Big Ten) took a strong lead within the first quarter of the game, with UCLA (27-2, 16-2 in the Big Ten) missing all shots up until 5 minutes, 40 seconds were left of the first quarter as Kiki Rice made the first basket.
UCLA struggled to keep up as USC continued to take the lead for the remainder of the first quarter. USC had a 42.9% shooting from the field compared to UCLA’s 41.2%.
Angela Dugalic, with just 35 seconds left of the first quarter, dominated a fastbreak three-pointer, diminishing USC’s lead to 23-20.
Within the second quarter, USC continued to take the lead with Juju Watkins, having a 8-for-13 shooting. At the end of the second quarter, the difference in percentage of field goals was even greater as USC’s totaled 52.9% while UCLA’s decreased to a 30.8%.
Noteworthy players for UCLA included Rice, who had five overall assists, as well as Gabriela Jaquez, who had a total of 3-for-6 field goals.
UCLA was stronger during the third quarter, cutting USC’s lead to 55-50 as Rice led with 16 points and six assists.
Within the fourth quarter, however, UCLA struggled from the three-point range — having a field goal percentage of just 25% overall. USC’s defense was unstoppable as UCLA’s primary weakness was the result of 16 turnovers, where USC scored a whopping 25 points off of them.
USC’s star player Watkins had overthrown any chance UCLA had at having a comeback, as she blocked Lauren Betts’ shot at just one minute left during the final quarter.
“They did their jobs, and we weren’t as tough, and we didn’t do our jobs,” Coach Cori Close said.
When Close was asked about another shot of going up against USC in terms of the Big Ten tournament, she said, “100 percent, absolutely.”
Point guard Kiki Rice summons cheers from crowds with hand motions in the air after a jump ball call with an opposing player. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
UCLA players line up side by side for the National Anthem, performed by UCLA's band. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
UCLA's #11 Gabriela Jaquez (left) attempts a layup as USC's Juju Watkins (right) blocks the shot. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
Janiah Barker lies on the floor after the ball goes out of bounds. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
Three UCLA players jump in the air to defend against USC's Kennedy Smith as she takes a shot. Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife.
