UCLA went 27-0 in games not involving JuJu Watkins this year. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
No. 2 UCLA went 27-2 in the regular season. USC’s JuJu Watkins had a combined 68 points against the Bruins in those two losses. On Feb. 13, she scored 38 points in a 71-60 win. And on Saturday, she had 30 in an 80-67 win.
With one more incendiary performance from the frontrunner for National Player of the Year, No. 4 USC defeated the Bruins to sweep their season series and win the Big Ten regular-season title. In games not involving USC, UCLA went undefeated.
Watkins got those 30 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field (4-of-11 from 3-point range), while chipping in five assists, three rebounds, three blocks and two steals against two turnovers.
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USC got off to a strong start behind Watkins, who scored 23 of those points in a first half that ended with the Trojans leading by 14 points. Playing in front a sold-out Pauley Pavilion in Westwood, USC took control early.
UCLA managed to get back into the game in the second half, narrowing the lead to as little as four points toward the end of the third quarter. One more run in the fourth put the Trojans back in control, allowing Watkins to check out with a full minute left to enjoy the win.
USC has now beaten UCLA four straight times, with Watkins dropping at least 30 points in every game. She is now 4-1 against the Bruins. Trojans legend Cheryl Miller, in attendance with her brother and UCLA alum Reggie Miller, liked what she was seeing.
On the other end of the sideline, UCLA’s own National Player of the Year candidate Lauren Betts struggled, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, 11 rebounds, two blocks and five turnovers. USC clearly had a game plan for her and was aggressive with its double teams, and it worked.
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With their leading scorer quiet and Kiki Rice, their only other player averaging double-digit points per game, shooting 3-of-13, the Bruins couldn’t maintain nearly enough momentum on offense. They shot 22-of-61 (36.1%) as a team, with 16 turnovers against 16 assists.
The win means USC will take the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament, and now has the inside track to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. UCLA was the top-ranked team when the NCAA tournament committee revealed its top 16 on Thursday, while USC had the last No. 1 seed. These two teams could theoretically meet again in the Big Ten tournament, with even more at stake.
