Northwestern receives forfeits for postponed games vs. UCLA, USC during L.A. wildfires

Northwestern’s women’s basketball team will be issued two forfeits, which will count as losses, for scheduled games against UCLA and USC that were initially postponed in January due to the deadly wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area.

The Big Ten Conference announced the ruling Wednesday, saying the games — originally set for Jan. 12 at UCLA and Jan. 15 at USC — would not be rescheduled.

“Per Conference rules, forfeitures will be assessed to Northwestern. As a result, the Wildcats will receive two losses in the conference standings, while UCLA and USC each will be credited with a win,” the Big Ten’s announcement said.

With the losses, Northwestern drops to 2-15 in the conference (9-19 overall), while USC improves to 16-1 atop the Big Ten (26-2 overall) and UCLA moves to 15-1 in the league (27-1 overall). Northwestern is coming off back-to-back losses and closes its regular season hosting Nebraska on March 2. The Wildcats are battling Purdue, Rutgers and Penn State for the 15th and final spot for the conference tournament in March.

In a statement Wednesday, Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said the program “accepts the decision by the Big Ten Conference to strictly apply the Conference bylaws as written” in issuing forfeits for the missed games…