No. 2 Ucla Women Dominate Rival Usc To Finish Big Ten Play Undefeated

Sunday marked Senior Night for nan USC women’s hoops squad astatine Galen Center, but it was nan other team’s seniors who stole nan show.

Gabriela Jaquez scored 14 points, Kiki Rice had 11 points and 4 assists and Lauren Betts had 15 rebounds arsenic UCLA wrapped up nan regular play pinch a 73-50 triumph complete its rival and vanished undefeated successful convention play for nan first clip since going 18-0 successful nan Pac-10 successful 1998-99 nether Kathy Olivier.

Having already clinched nan regular-season title, UCLA became nan first squad to navigate nan Big Ten schedule without a nonaccomplishment since Maryland successful 2014-15.

It was nan Bruins’ 22nd consecutive win, 1 awkward of nan grounds they group past season. Since their lone nonaccomplishment to then-No. 4 Texas connected Nov. 26 successful Las Vegas, they person won by 20 aliases much points 16 times.

Ranked 2nd successful nan federation successful some nan AP and Coaches’ polls down defending nationalist champion Connecticut (30-0), nan Bruins earned nan No. 1 seed for nan convention tourney successful Indianapolis and get a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals.

Charlisse Leger-Walker scored a game-high 20 points for nan Bruins while Gianna Kneepkens added 14 points and 5 assists.

UCLA (28-1, 18-0) held USC to 27% shooting successful nan teams’ first gathering — a 34-point Bruins triumph astatine Pauley Pavilion connected Jan. 3 down Betts’ 18 points. It was USC’s astir lopsided nonaccomplishment nether coach Lindsay Gottlieb. On Sunday, USC changeable 39% and was only 3 for 19 from three-point range.

UCLA jumped retired to a 14-4 lead successful nan first 5 minutes and carried a 19-11 advantage into nan 2nd quarter. The Bruins widened nan spread to 18 points by halftime, holding nan Trojans scoreless for nan past 3:08.

USC opened nan 2nd half connected an 11-2 run.