The No. 12 UCLA Women’s Basketball team rallied back from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to beat USC 61-60 to complete the regular season sweep over the Trojans on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA improved to 14-2 on the season and 3-1 in PAC-12 play with the win while USC dropped to 11-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
“When you just think about the history and what we get to participate in, it’s really humbling,” UCLA coach Cori Close said as the Bruins defeated USC for an eighth straight game.
UCLA forced the USC into seven turnovers in the fourth, and did not commit one turnover in the quarter. The Bruins outscored the Trojans 21-8 in the final period.
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Bruins freshman guard Londynn Jones had a season-high 22 points in the win to lead all scorers. Jones has scored in double digits in four of her last five games. Sophomore forward Emily Bessoir also finished in double figures for UCLA with 11 points.
USC led 34-30 going into halftime and extended their lead to 52-40 through three quarters.
“When you have a selfless team, and a neutral team, […] then we get ready for big moments when we need it. And Londynn Jones was ready for that big moment,” said Close.
UCLA used a 10-0 run to start the fourth and proceeded to make 10 free throws while putting pressure on the Trojans in the paint.
Senior guard Charisma Osborne added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds in her return from an ankle injury for the Bruins.
UCLA outrebounded USC 40-29 and shot 86 percent from the free throw line while the Trojans shot 72 percent from the charity stripe.
Sophomore guard Rayah Marshall and junior guard Kayla Williams each scored 15 points apiece for the Trojans. USC played without their top scorer in graduate forward Kadi Sissoko due to an injury.
“Being together I feel like is the biggest thing,” Jones said. “Knowing that we all have each other’s back through the highs and through the lows… that’s what sets us apart.”
The Bruins will next prepare for a huge showdown as they host the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal on Friday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m.
