UCLA finally defeated USC, and they did it in the biggest game, winning the Big Ten Tournament final, 72-67.
The Bruins got it done, with Lauren Betts leading the way. She shot 70 percent from the field and scored 17 points, along with grabbing five rebounds. Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones stepped up as well, scoring 13 points a piece. For the Trojans, JuJu Watkins scored 29 points, but struggled in the second half. USC’s offense stalled, and the team lost its double-digit lead.
UCLA came out to a quick start in this one, leading 7-3 after a Betts bucket inside. USC responded with a basket by Kiki Iriafen, and the Trojans started rolling. Watkins scored seven points as part of a 9-0 run, forcing the Bruins to call a timeout.
Malia Samuels then hit a 3 for the Trojans, and USC was in control, up 17-11. UCLA avoided disaster at that moment with their outside shooting. Timea Gardiner hit a pair of 3s to keep the Bruins within four. A Clarice Akunwafo layup extended USC’s lead to six, but a Rice layup to end the first made it a 24-19 for the Trojans lead after one quarter of play.
Kendall Dudley began the scoring for UCLA in the second, and then both teams exchanged 3s, making it a 27-24 game with USC leading by three. A Betts basket made it a one-point game, but Iriafen…
