UCLA Bruins have no answer for JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans after losing 80-67
UCLA Bruins #51 Lauren Betts (C/PF) is trying her best to keep USC Trojans #12 JuJu Watkins (G) from driving to the basket. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
WESTWOOD, CA - JuJu Watkins scored 30 points, Kiki Iriafen with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Talia von Oelhoffen with 8 points helped the No. 4 USC Trojans beat the No. 2 UCLA Bruins 80-67 at Pauley Pavilion, for the second time this season to capture the Big Ten regular season title.
KiKi Rice had 16 points for UCLA, Londynn Jones with 12 points, and Lauren Betts with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Trojans have beaten the Bruins in four straight games, and have been the more physical team, and mentally lock-in. In the video below, I asked USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb about the mental toughness of her team.
Watkins in the four games she played against UCLA has averaged 30 ppg and is only one of the few players to do so against one team. She is mentally tough and handles the good and bad with a grain of sand. In the video below, I asked USC's head coach Lindsay Gottlieb about that. This video is the courtesy of UCLA.
The Bruins' loss tonight was because of turnovers. USC forced UCLA into 16 turnovers, which led to 25 points for the Trojans. UCLA Head Coach Cori Close was very hot after the game.
"Just really pissed off we didn't show up and do our jobs," Close said to open the press conference. "Credit to USC, they were tougher. Tougher and more disciplined."
Watkins set the tone for the game in the first quarter after knocking down a three-pointer to give USC a 3-0 lead. The Trojans would go on a 10-2, capped off by Taila von Oelhoffen fouled on her made three-point shot, and her free throw was good to give the Trojans a 13-2 lead.
UCLA Bruins #51 Lauren Betts (PF/C) is posting up in the paint against the USC Trojans #34 Claurice Akunwafo (C). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
UCLA would trail 18-12 with a jump shot by Lauren Betts in the paint. USC would end the first quarter leading 23-20.
In the second quarter, The Bruins trail 34-26 with a layup by Lauren Betts. Watkins knocked down a three-pointer to give the Trojans a fourteen-point lead at halftime, 46-32.
Watkins was in another time zone in the third quarter, nailed another jump shot to give USC a 55-44 lead. The Bruins would go on a 6-0 run, now trailed 55-50 with a layup by Betts.
USC Trojans #44 Kiki Iriafen (F) is pulling up for a jump shot at the top of the key against a UCLA Bruins defender. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
USC would hold off UCLA to go up 64-51 with a jump shot by Iriafen to end the third quarter.
Rayah Marshall got things going in the fourth quarter after pulling up for a jump shot at the top of the key to give the Trojans a 66-53.
UCLA Bruins #1 KiKi Rice (G) is being guarded by #10 USC Trojans Malia Samuels (G). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Watkins would end the game with two free throws that made the final score 80-67, and the celebration for the Trojans to win their first Big Ten regular season title.
Despite the loss to the Trojans, Coach Close still believes that they still have something to fight for with the Big Ten Conference Tournament coming up, and the NCAA Tournament right after that.
"It's a very weird dichotomy, because on the one hand, we have a team that's lost two games all year and we have a lot to still play for and we have a lot to be proud of," Close said. "And at the same time, I'm really angry. We let each other down today."