In a thrilling cross-town clash, the No. 9 Southern California Trojans handed a stunning defeat to the second-ranked UCLA Bruins, with a final score of 73-65. The victory marked UCLA's first loss of the season, leaving the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks as the only remaining undefeated team in women's college basketball.
JuJu Watkins, the sensational freshman for USC, put on a show, scoring an impressive 32 points to secure the win for her team. This marked her sixth 30-point game of the season and the first since December 3rd. McKenzie Forbes also had a solid performance, contributing 18 points to help end USC's nine-game losing streak against their crosstown rivals.
UCLA had previously emerged victorious in the first meeting of top-10 teams this season, defeating USC 71-64 at Pauley Pavilion two weeks ago. However, this time, it was USC's turn to shine in front of a sellout crowd at Galen Center.
Charisma Osborne led the Bruins with 25 points, all of which came in the second half. Osborne's layup in the third quarter marked a milestone in her career, reaching the impressive 2,000 career points mark. However, UCLA's leading scorer and rebounder, Lauren Betts, struggled in the game, scoring only 10 points after being sidelined due to illness during the week.
The Bruins faced foul trouble throughout the game, with all five of their starters finding themselves in jeopardy. Londynn Jones, Kiki Rice, and Lina Sontag ultimately fouled out in the fourth quarter, adding to the challenges faced by UCLA.
While Watkins had a relatively low shooting percentage, going 8 of 22 from the field and missing all of her six 3-point attempts, she made an incredible impact by going a perfect 16 of 16 from the free-throw line. Watkins also showcased her versatility by grabbing 10 rebounds.
In the crucial fourth quarter, Forbes drained a pivotal 3-pointer to extend USC's lead to 60-48. However, the resilient Bruins fought back, going on a nine-point spree, capped by Jones' three-pointer, to close the gap to 63-59.
With time winding down, USC's Watkins hit a crucial jumper, and Taylor Bigby added a score to regain a comfortable margin for the Trojans. Despite Jones' valiant efforts for UCLA, including a layup to narrow the gap to five points, the team fell short in the final seconds as missed shots prevented them from closing the deficit completely.
The third quarter saw a strong surge from UCLA, outscoring USC 23-17 and getting 13 points from Osborne alone. Nevertheless, Watkins carried USC with her scoring prowess, even though she encountered early foul trouble, to help the Trojans maintain their lead.
Unfortunately, USC was without starting center Rayah Marshall and reserve player Aaliyah Gayles, both sidelined due to illness. However, the team managed to overcome this setback with their exceptional performance.
The Trojans' dominance was evident through two key runs, an 11-0 burst in the first quarter and a 15-0 surge in the second, which led them to a comfortable 34-19 halftime lead. Watkins showcased her resilience by grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring against fierce defensive pressure in the paint. Harvard transfer Forbes also played a crucial role, hitting back-to-back three-pointers during USC's first-quarter run.
The Bruins struggled with turnovers, committing 15 in total, which resulted in 16 points for the Trojans in the first half. UCLA's starters, Jones, Osborne, and Dugalic, failed to contribute any points during this period.
The game drew attention not only from basketball enthusiasts but also from celebrities such as rappers Chris Brown and USC graduate Saweetie, as well as basketball icons Candace Parker and Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller.
Although this loss will undoubtedly sting for UCLA, it is unlikely to drop them significantly in the AP Top 25 rankings. Meanwhile, USC's victory over a highly-ranked opponent like UCLA marks a significant milestone for the Trojans.
Looking ahead, UCLA will face a challenging matchup on Friday as they visit the No. 5 Colorado team. USC, on the other hand, will be heading to Utah to face off against No. 19 Utah, led by former Trojans star Alissa Pili.
Basketball enthusiasts can stay updated with the latest AP Top 25 basketball rankings and news throughout the season by signing up for poll alerts and updates. All the action can be followed on AP college basketball's official website.
