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WESTWOOD, California In front of a sold-out crowd at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, the No. 2 host UCLA women's basketball team defeated the No. 6 USC squad 71-64 in a historic meeting between crosstown rivals. It was the Trojans' first loss of the season. For the first time since 1981, both the Bruins and the Trojans entered the game with perfect records, and it was also the first time that both teams were ranked in the top ten. With a 0-1 record in Pac-12 play, USC now has a 10-1 overall record, while UCLA has a 12-0, 1-0 record.
As both teams turned up the heat in the second quarter, a slow first quarter became an all-out shootout. In the second quarter, both teams made more than 56% of their shots from the field. JuJu Watkins of USC scored the team's first basket to help the Trojans reverse a late-scoring drought. After falling behind UCLA by ten points in the first quarter, USC managed to rally and win the second. The Bruins led 38–37 at halftime, according to the scoreboard. At the half, UCLA was leading the rebounding battle 22–17, while USC was ahead in points scored, shooting 40.7 percent from the field compared to UCLA's 36.8 percent. However, the Bruins had made six 3-pointers to offset USC's first-half efforts. With six minutes remaining, the game was tied at one point, but two more crucial three-pointers from UCLA created a lead that helped the home team win. The Bruins dominated the boards and made eight 3-pointers to USC's five, leading to a 48-37 lead. UCLA shot 35.2 percent overall, while USC concluded the game with a 33.3 percent overall shooting percentage.
Watkins led the way for USC with a game-high 27 points and a double-double while grabbing 11 rebounds. McKenzie Forbes led the Trojans with 23 points, and Rayah Marshall had 13 rebounds. London Jones scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead UCLA's quartet of players who finished in double figures. For the Bruins, Lauren Betts scored 15 points, Kiki Rice scored 12, and Charima Osborne scored 10.
For the opening eight minutes of the game, USC was held scoreless on the court; the Trojans' only points came from two free throws as the Bruins jumped out to a 14-2 advantage. After breaking the ice with a bucket that set the hosts on fire, JuJu Watkins made four consecutive free throws and then helped Kayla Padilla make a 3-pointer to bring the Trojans within three points at the end of the first quarter, 14-11. The second quarter began with a solitary free throw from UCLA. Watkins then went on a rampage, making two three-pointers and a long one beyond the arc to give USC a 17–15 advantage. In that quarter, Rayah Marshall, McKenzie Forbes, and Kaitlyn Davis would each score their first points from the floor, and at 4:55, USC was leading 25–22. After a Bruin 3-pointer tied the game, there was back-and-forth play. In the final four minutes, the lead changed hands eleven times. At halftime, the hosts led 38–37 thanks to a late three-pointer from UCLA.
The Bruins started the third quarter with a 6-0 lead as the Trojans were down in fouls. Marshall gave the Trojans a lead with a basket in the paint, but with 5:15 remaining, UCLA mounted another 6-0 comeback to take a 50-39 advantage. Once more, Watkins' basket helped maintain the Trojans' momentum. After another UCLA trip to the free-throw line, Clarice Akunwafo scored, and Forbes added a three-pointer to bring the score to 52-46. In the last minute, Forbes added another three, and Watkins made a clean jumper to make it 56-51. However, UCLA scored the game's last basket to take a 58-51 lead into the fourth quarter. With 6:00 remaining, USC had cut the lead to one point thanks to some valiant play from Forbes and a 3-pointer from Watkins. The hosts gained some space thanks to a couple of impressive UCLA threes, and they eventually took the lead 68-61 on their eighth 3-pointer of the game. In the last four minutes, neither side would make a basket other than a free throw; UCLA won 71-64 to hand USC its first loss of the year.
UPCOMING: USC welcomes the Oregon schools back to Galen Center for their first Pac-12 home game of the year the following week. The Trojans play Oregon State on Friday, January 5, at 7 p.m., and Oregon on Sunday, December 7, at 12 p.m.
Notably, neither USC nor UCLA had ever faced off against one another before, and this was their first meeting.
This was the first time since 1981 that USC and UCLA have faced each other while rated in the AP top 10. They were ranked No. 6 and No. 2, respectively.
- FR JuJu Watkins scored a career-high 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to record her second double-double.
As of right now, Watkins has led USC in scoring in each of her Trojan games.
JR Rayah Marshall recorded her sixth game of the season with double-digit rebounds, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds.
