LOS ANGELES — The Big Ten officially belongs to Southern California.
In the battle of Los Angeles between No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 USC, the Trojans came out hot and never looked back en route to winning the conference regular-season crown, sweeping the rival Bruins with an 80-67 victory.
USC star JuJu Watkins opened up the night with a 3-point shot and USC started the game on a 9-0 run. They led wire-to-wire. UCLA did close the deficit on a few occasions, getting it to a four-point game in the third quarter. But the USC offense didn’t freeze. Bucket after bucket went in and it stretched the lead to as much as 20 points in the final quarter.
It’s the fourth consecutive win over UCLA for the Trojans.
Watkins was again the star against UCLA with a 30-point outing. She added five assists, three rebounds and three blocks.
The Trojans will head into the Big Ten tournament next week as the No. 1 seed and the Bruins will be the No. 2 seed. There’s a great chance the two sides meet again in the final in Indianapolis.
UCLA vs. USC score
Trojans less than two minutes away from win
It’s all but over in Pauley Pavilion as USC leads by 19 points with 1:58 to go in the contest. A USC chant broke out from the Trojan fans in attendance.
USC closing in on win
The Trojans can smell the Big Ten crown as the offense hasn’t let up in the fourth quarter. They lead 76-59 with just under five minutes to go. Two consecutive 3-point shots from Avery Howell were big shots that took much of the life out of Pauley Pavilion. USC had the lead at 20 points just a few minutes ago.
End of third quarter: USC 64, UCLA 51
The Big Ten regular-season championship is 10 minutes away from being decided. The Trojans are closing in on the title with a 13-point lead after three quarters.
UCLA came out of halftime and made it a close battle, closing the deficit to four points with three minutes left in the frame. That would be the last time the Bruins would score, with USC going on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points. Despite some uncharacteristic missed free throws, JuJu Watkins remains the leading scorer with 28 points.
USC pushes lead after UCLA run
The Bruins were able to cut the deficit to four points, but a 7-0 Trojan run has USC up by double-digits again in the final minute of the third quarter.
UCLA hanging around
The Bruins are showing some fight out of halftime. The offense has found some rhythm to make it a single-digit deficit halfway through the third quarter.
Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones have each scored five points in the quarter. But on the other side, Kiki Iriafen has also added five points to keep the distance away from the Bruins.
Halftime: USC 46, UCLA 32
It’s another edition of the JuJu Watkins Show as she continues to torch her crosstown rival. The Trojans lead 46-32 at the break. Watkins made the first bucket of the night and she’s been scoring in flurries since. She has 23 points and she’s 4-of-7 from 3-point land.
Meanwhile, turnovers and defensive lapses are hurting UCLA. It has turned it over 11 times and its led to 17 points for the opponent. The other star, Lauren Betts, has been quiet so far. The Trojans have a near-perfect game plan for her in the post. She has nine rebounds, a game-high, but only four points. The Bruins haven’t led.
USC shot 18-for-38 (47.4%) and UCLA was 11-for-30 (36.7%) from the field in the first half.
Trojans extend lead
USC continues to hit shots and capitalize on UCLA mistakes, leading by 14 points with less than three minutes to go in the half. The Bruins have turned it over six times in the quarter and nine times overall, leading to 14 Trojan points.
USC gets hot again
Something about great starts to quarters for the Trojans, who have a double-digit lead again at 34-24 with five-and-a-half minutes to go in the second frame. USC has made four of its first seven attempts in the quarter. Guard Kennedy Smith is getting it going on offense. UCLA has turned it over three times in the quarter.
End of first quarter: USC 23, UCLA 20
It was a USC blitz to start the contest but the Bruins have clawed back and Pauley Pavilion is rocking. The Trojans lead by three at the end of the first 10 minutes.
Just like in the first matchup, JuJu Watkins started off hot, making five of her first six shot attempts and scoring 13 of the first 21 points for the Trojans. Defenders weren’t able to do much early on and it looked like it was going to be a long night for UCLA as USC led by as much as 11 points.
UCLA eventually started making shots and got itself back in the game. It also disrupted USC’s momentum and it drew fouls, primarily on Lauren Betts. USC starters Kiki Iriafen and Kennedy Smith had two fouls each in the first eight minutes and will now be in trouble for at least the remainder of the first half. The Bruins closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit.
USC starts with massive run
The Trojans have continued their momentum from the first meeting, on fire with a 13-2 lead in the first four-and-a-half minutes. JuJu Watkins got the first bucket of the night on a 3-point shot, signaling another big night from the star, and USC opened on a 9-0 run. Talia von Oelhoffen then got a 3-point shot and the foul to give her team an early double-digit lead. The Bruins missed their first eight shot attempts.
When is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game?
The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET.
How to watch UCLA vs. USC
Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)
Fox will nationally broadcast Saturday’s game between UCLA and USC. It can be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
What channel is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game on?
USC and UCLA’s matchup on Thursday will be broadcasted on Fox.
UCLA starting lineup
Kiki Rice, G
Londynn Jones, G
Gabriela Jaquez, F
Angela Dugalic, F
Lauren Betts, C
USC starting lineup
Kennedy Smith, G
JuJu Watkins, G
Talia von Oelhoffen, G
Rayah Marshall, F
Kiki Iriafen, F
UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball odds
Odds according to BetMGM.
Spread: UCLA (-4.5)
Moneyline: UCLA (-250); USC (+200)
Over/under: 140.5
UCLA resume
Record: 27-1
NET ranking: No. 5
Quad 1 record: 10-1
Quality wins: No. 6 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 3 USC
USC resume
Record: 25-2
NET ranking: No. 6
Quad 1 record: 9-2
Quality wins: Mississippi, No. 5 Connecticut, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 2 UCLA, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 4 Notre Dame, Iowa
UCLA last five results
Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: UCLA 75, Michigan State 69
Thursday, Feb. 20: UCLA 70, Illinois 55
Sunday, Feb. 23: UCLA 67, Iowa 65
Wednesday, Feb. 26: UCLA 91, Wisconsin 61
USC last five results
Saturday, Feb. 8: USC 84, Ohio State 63
Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: USC 69, Washington 64
Wednesday, Feb. 19: USC 83, Michigan State 75
Sunday, Feb. 23: USC 76, Illinois 66
Keys to UCLA vs. USC
There’s more than just city bragging rights at stake when UCLA and Southern California meet again on Saturday.
The No. 2 Bruins and No. 3 Trojans had an epic first clash on Feb. 13, with JuJu Watkins delivering a signature performance as USC beat its rival in front of its home fans. The second game will take place at UCLA. Just like the first matchup at the Galen Center, an electric environment is expected; it will be a sell-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA and USC have had little trouble in their first season in the Big Ten. Saturday’s winner can cap off an incredible regular season with a championship and generate momentum as March Madness approaches. Each team has national championship aspirations and is in prime position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament based on Thursday’s selection committee rankings.
‘It’s for all the marbles here,’ said USC forward Rayah Marshall.
– Read the keys and things to watch for the matchup here.
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