No.12 UCLA Bruins rally from behind to beat the USC Trojans in a thriller 61-60

USC Trojans #13 Rayah Marshall (G/F) pulling up for a jump shot. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

WESTWOOD, CA - The UCLA Bruins (14-2, Pac12 3-1) came from behind to sweep the two-game series against their cross-town rival the USC Trojans (11-4, Pac12 1-3), in a thriller at Pauley Pavilion 61-60.

Londynn Jones led UCLA in scoring with 22 points, Emilly Bessoir with 11 points, and Charisma Osborne with 9 points.

Rayah Marshall and Kayla Williams led USC in scoring, both with 15 points, Okako Adika with 11 points, and Destiny Littleton with 10 points. The Trojans were without one of their best players forward Kadi Sissoko who averaged 21ppg.

Kiki Rice's back-to-back layups gave UCLA a 4-0 lead in the first quarter Rayah Marshall tied the game 4-4 with her jump shot. Londynn Jones' three-pointer gave the Bruins a 7-4 lead.

USC tied the game 9-9 with a three-pointer by Okako Adika. USC led 17-14 with two free throws by Kayla Williams. Gabriela Jaquez's layup had the Bruins trailing down 17-16.

UCLA Bruins #11 Emily Bessoir (F) three-point shot from the left side of the court. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

The Trojans led 21-19 in the second quarter after Marshall's layup. UCLA would regain the lead 22-21 with a three-pointer by Emily Bessoir. The Bruins tied the game 24-24 with a basket by Christeen Iwuala.

USC would lead by four points, 28-24, with a jump shot by Williams. Bessoir would knock down a three-pointer to have the Bruins trailing 28-27 with 2:59 left before halftime.

Clarice Akunwafo's layup had the Trojans leading 32-27. Charisma Osborne's three-pointer made the score 32-30. USC led 34-30 at halftime with a layup by Adika.

USC would lead by eleven points in the third quarter, 43-32, with a three-pointer by Taylor Bigby. Marshall was fouled on her made basket and made her free throw increasing the Trojans' lead to 46-34.

UCLA Bruins #3 Londynn Jones (G) driving and slicing her way to the basket for a left-handed layup. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

UCLA trail 46-38 after a layup by Jones. Adika made a free throw to make the score 49-38. USC led 51-40 with a pair of free throws by Williams. The Trojans led at the end of the quarter 52-40 with one free throw by Adika.

 In the fourth quarter, Osborne would be fouled on her shot attempt, went to the free throw line, made two free throws, and now the Bruins trailed 52-46, and USC called a timeout.

 Jones would drive to the basket for back-to-back layups, had UCLA trailing 52-50 with 6:53 left in the game. Williams's layup shot gave USC a 54-50 lead.

 The Bruins trailed 54-53 with a three-pointer by Bessoir. UCLA took the lead with a 55-54 with a jump shot by Osborne.

USC tied the game 55-55 with one free throw by Williams. Jones gave UCLA a 57-55 lead with two free throws. USC trailed 57-56 with a free throw by Destiny Littleton.

USC Trojans #24 Okako Adika (G/F) is going up for a layup and her shot is being challenged by UCLA Bruins #35 Camryn Brown (G). Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

Adika tied the game 58-58 with two free throws with 1:58 left on the clock. UCLA would lead 60-58 with two free throws by Lina Sontag.

With 21 seconds left in the game, Jones would make one free throw to give the Bruins a 61-58 lead. Adika would make a jump shot just before the buzzer went off, and UCLA escaped with a one-point victory over their cross-town rival USC in a thriller 61-60.

USC committed 17 turnovers and UCLA 16 turnovers, and the Bruins outrebounded USC 40-29 and on the offensive boards 15-4, one of the main reasons for their come-from-behind victory.