Defend our residence courtroom.
That was the UCLA ladies’s basketball crew’s New 12 months’s decision, and within the Bruins’ first efficiency of 2026, they did that in convincing vogue, dominating crosstown rival USC 80-46 Saturday in entrance of 11,241 followers at Pauley Pavilion.
The most recent version of the “Battle of L.A.” was all blue and gold as UCLA, taking part in in Westwood for the primary time since a 106-44 blowout of Lengthy Seaside State on Dec. 20, took command with a 14-0 run halfway by the second quarter to notch its eighth straight victory since its solely loss to No. 2 Texas in late November.
“Thanks to the gang for exhibiting up on a wet day — we admire the help,” UCLA coach Cori Shut stated. “We didn’t play our greatest, however we did an amazing job on the boards. We held them to 27% capturing. Our protection was higher than our offense as we speak. Offense can’t be the place we discover our identification. Protection and rebounding was our anchor tonight. I’d wish to see extra consistency and to maintain getting nearer to our normal.”
UCLA guard Kiki Rice shoots over USC guard Malia Samuels through the second half of the Bruins’ win Saturday evening.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
The rating was tied 16-16 after the primary 10 minutes, however then the Bruins started to say themselves within the paint. A layup by Angela Dugalic put UCLA up 20-18 with 8:20 left within the second quarter and it by no means regarded again.
Lauren Betts led the fourth-ranked Bruins (14-1 total, 4-0 in Massive Ten) with 18 factors, 12 rebounds and three blocks. After a one-handed stuff on the defensive finish, the 6-foot-7 heart dished to Gianna Kneepkens for a large open three-pointer, then sank a pair of free throws to place UCLA up by double digits for the primary time two minutes earlier than halftime. Kiki Rice’s driving layup on the buzzer grew the result in 15 at halftime, 43-28.
Kneepkens scored 15 factors, Rice contributed 14 factors and eight assists and Gabriela Jaquez added 12 factors. The Bruins had 24 assists, received the battle on the boards 46-26 and outscored the Trojans 42-10 within the paint.
UCLA heart Lauren Betts appears to go to ahead Angela Dugalic over USC guard Kennedy Smith through the second half Saturday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
“That is the hardest-working crew I’ve ever been round, I’ve obtained to kick them out of the fitness center,” Shut added. “There’s a distinction between onerous work and competing. Now I would like all of them to switch that arduous work into aggressive consciousness.”
Kara Dunn scored 11 factors to guide Seventeenth-ranked USC (10-4, 2-1).
“Somebody informed me earlier than the sport our packages had been 54-54 within the all-time matchup, so this was the rubber match,” stated Shut, who’s 8-4 versus the Trojans since Lindsay Gottlieb took over at USC in 2021. “One factor we share is that we need to develop the sport collectively in L.A. I’m proud to accomplice with Lindsay in that.”
It marked UCLA’s fifth win this season over a ranked opponent. The Bruins tackle their seventh of their subsequent recreation Jan. 11 at No. 20 Nebraska.
“After we misplaced to them right here final yr it was powerful and we didn’t need to really feel that once more,” Rice stated. “This can be a new yr, a brand new alternative and for me it wasn’t about scoring, it was about discovering my teammates. This can be a balanced crew, lots of gamers can rating, so we needed to crash the boards and restrict their possessions.”
A precedence on protection was containing freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, who entered Saturday averaging a team-best 16.8 factors per recreation. She was held to 10 factors on four-for-15 capturing. UCLA little question took satisfaction in holding senior guard Londynn Jones, who transferred from UCLA to USC over the summer season, to 6 factors on one-for-nine capturing.
“I’m solely not rooting for Londynn a few occasions a yr,” Shut stated. “Apart from that I’m at all times in her nook.”
USC guard Jazzy Davidson, proper, tries to maintain the ball away from UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens through the first half Saturday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
UCLA stretched the result in 25 factors by the top of the third quarter.
“It was primarily about sustaining area offensively and I assumed our guards did an amazing job creating for me … particularly in transition,” stated Betts, who handed 1,500 profession factors within the Bruins’ 97-61 rout of Penn State on New 12 months’s Eve. “Positive, reaching that milestone is cool, but it surely’s a only a quantity.”
USC made six of its first 9 three-pointers however went chilly after that.
USC guard Londynn Jones, proper, tries to drive previous UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez through the first half Saturday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
“We determined we’re not going to allow them to shoot any extra threes,” Betts stated. “That was preserving them within the recreation. I used to be serving to on ball screens but it surely was a crew effort.”
Requested what legendary coach John Wood would have considered this UCLA squad, Shut stated: “He at all times valued the teamwork side. I’d wish to assume he would’ve loved watching us and his members of the family inform me ‘Papa would’ve preferred this crew’ and I take that to coronary heart.”
UCLA gamers have a good time on the bench throughout their 80-46 win over USC at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday evening.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
