UCLA beats USC for the second time 68-58 at the Galen Center

USC Trojans #3 Tera Reed (G) driving to the basket against UCLA Bruins #1 Kayle Owens (G) at the Galen Center. Photo by Whitney Foster/T.G.Sportstv1.

1/23/22 LOS ANGELES, CA - The UCLA Bruins (8-4, Pac-12, 3-1) were looking to sweep the USC Trojans (9-6, Pac-12, 2-3) on the road after beating them 66-43 at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday, beat them 68-58 at the Galen Center.

USC had three players that scored thirteen points, Alissa Pili 13-points, Jordyn Jenkins 13-points, Tera Reed 13-points, and Clarice Akunwafo, who started at center with 9-points.

"Clarice's presence on Thomas was important because of her size," USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. "And similarly, on the other end, she's great at finishing around the rim. She understands her role and what she does well."

The Trojans shot much better in their second game against UCLA, 41% from the floor than Thursday 28%, outrebounded the Bruins 46-32 on Thursday but lost that battle on the boards 36-28 thanks to Izzy Ansley, who had nine rebounds on Sunday.

"We came unprepared Thursday, and we got whooped," Pili said. "So we took that, and we put it into practice, we put it into preparation for this next game, and we did a really good job of coming back with some fight in us."

UCLA Bruins #20 Charisma Osborne (G) going strong to the basket. Photo by Whitney Foster/T.G.Sportstv1.

UCLA led at the end of the first quarter 24-16 after Charismas Osborne scored eleven of the twenty-four points by the Bruins and Natalie Chou with 6-points. Tera Reed had 7-points for the Trojans.

USC trailed 26-22 in the second quarter after a three-pointer by Tara Reed. Osbourne made a left-hand layup gave the Bruins a 30-25 lead.

The Trojans were down 38-29 at halftime after their center Clarice Akunwafo layup. Reed led the Trojans in scoring in the first half with 10-points, and Alissa Pili and Reed both with 6-points. Osborne led the Bruins in scoring with 18-points and Chou with 7-points.

USC Trojans #34 Clarice Akunwafo (C) post move in the paint. Photo by Whitney Foster/T.G.Sportstv1.

Akunwafo made a layup in the third quarter, had USC trailing 38-33. Pili would make a three-point shot that had the Trojans down by two points, 38-36, and UCLA called a timeout.

USC went on a 5-0 run and tied the game 38-38 with a layup by Jordyn Jenkins. UCLA led 44-42 with a jump shot by Kayla Owens. UCLA led 52-43 at the end of the third quarter.

Pili would make a layup in the fourth quarter, making the score 55-47. Bella Perkins came into the game, and her three-pointer had USC down 57-50.

The Bruins were up by ten points 63-53, with a layup by IImar'l Thomas with 2:50 left in the game.

UCLA went on the beat USC for the second time this season, getting another win in the Pac-12 Conference. Charisma led the Bruins in scoring with 27-points and Thomas with 14-points and seven assists.