Saturday, December 30
Los Angeles, Calif.
5:00 PM
USC
10-1,0-1Pac-12
64
at
71
UCLA
12-0,1-0Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Southern California
11
26
14
13
64
UCLA
14
24
20
13
71
Team Stats
USC
UCLA
FG%
.333
.352
3FG%
.333
.381
FT%
.850
.684
RB
37
48
TO
11
12
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
11
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
3
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballC/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballPhoto by: John McGillen
No. 6 USC Women’s Basketball Takes First Loss In 71-64 Defeat At No. 2 UCLA
December 30, 2023 | Women's Basketball
USC’s JuJu Watkins leads all with 27 points in a great battle between undefeated top-10 crosstown rivals in Westwood.
WESTWOOD, CALIF. — In a historic meeting between crosstown rivals, No. 2 host UCLA fended off the No. 6 USC women's basketball team 71-64 in a battle that left the Trojans with their first loss of the season in front of a sold-out crowd at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. The meeting marked the first time that the Bruins and Trojans had both carried undefeated records into the contest, and it was the first time since 1981 that both teams met as top-10 ranked teams. USC now holds a 10-1 overall record with an 0-1 mark in Pac-12 play, while UCLA goes to 12-0, 1-0.
A sluggish first quarter turned into an all-out shootout as both teams turned up the heat in the second quarter. Both squads shot over 56 percent from the floor in the second quarter. USC's JuJu Watkins scored the Trojans' first bucket to break up an early USC scoring slump to help the Trojans turn the tide. USC had trailed UCLA by 10 in the first quarter and wound up battling back and getting out ahead in the second. By halftime, the Bruins had a 38-37 edge on the scoreboard. UCLA also led the rebounding battle 22-17 by the break, although USC was ahead on the scoring front, going 40.7 percent from the floor to UCLA's 36.8 percent. The Bruins had landed six 3-pointers, though, to help them counter USC's first-half efforts. It was a one-point game with six minutes to go before two more key UCLA threes built a margin that aided the hosts to the finish line. The Bruins made eight 3-pointers to USC's five, and controlled the boards to the tune of a 48-37 advantage. USC finished out the game shooting 33.3 percent overall, and UCLA wrapped at 35.2 percent.
USC received a game-high 27 points from Watkins, who also tallied a double-double in hauling in 11 rebounds, with McKenzie Forbes scoring 23 points for the Trojans, while Rayah Marshall pulled in a game-high 13 rebounds. UCLA had four players finish in double digits, led by London Jones' 21 points with five 3-pointers made. Lauren Betts had 15 points, Kiki Rice had 12, and Charisma Osborne scored 10 for the Bruins.
USC was scoreless from the floor for the first eight minutes of the game, with only a pair of free throws falling for the Trojans as the Bruins built a 14-2 lead. JuJu Watkins broke the silence with a bucket that lit a fuse for the hosts, pouring in four straight free throws and then serving up an assist on a 3-pointer from Kayla Padilla to pull the Trojans to within three at the end of the first, down 14-11. A single UCLA free throw opened the second, and then Watkins went on another tear, converting on a three-point play and then landing a long one from beyond the arc to lift USC to a 17-15 lead. Rayah Marshall, McKenzie Forbes and Kaitlyn Davis would all find their first scores from the floor in that frame, with USC moving out ahead 25-22 at 4:55. A Bruin 3-pointer pulled things even, and then a back-and-forth battle ensued. The lead traded hands 11 times in the last four minutes, with a late UCLA three nudging the hosts ahead 38-37 for halftime.
The foul count tipped against the Trojans to open the third while the Bruins got off on an early 6-0 surge. Marshall broke things up with a score in the paint for the Trojans, only to see UCLA manufacture another 6-0 push to lead it 50-39 with 5:15 on the clock. Again, it was a strike from Watkins that helped steady the Trojans, who followed up another UCLA trip to the free-throw line with a score from Clarice Akunwafo and a 3-pointer from Forbes for a lift to make it a 52-46 margin. Another Forbes three and a smooth jumper from Watkins made it 56-51 in the final minute, although UCLA found the final basket of the frame to lead it 58-51 entering the fourth. USC chipped the deficit down to one with some gutsy work from Forbes and then a 3-pointer from Watkins to get it to 60-59 with 6:00 to go. A couple tough UCLA threes would created some space for the hosts, who moved ahead 68-61 on their eighth 3-pointer of the night. Free throws would be the only tosses to fall in the final four minutes for both teams, and UCLA emerged with a final 71-64 victory to hand USC its first loss of the season.
NEXT:
USC gets back to Galen Center for its first Pac-12 home games of the season, hosting the Oregon schools next week. The Trojans take on Oregon State at 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 5) and then face Oregon at 12 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 7).
NOTABLE:
- This was the first-ever meeting between USC and UCLA where both teams entered the game undefeated.
- Ranked No. 6 and No. 2 respectively, this was the first time since 1981 that USC and UCLA have faced each other while ranked in the AP top 10.
- With a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds, FR JuJu Watkins recorded her second career double-double.
- Watkins has now led USC in scoring in every game she's played as a Trojan.
- With a game-high 13 rebounds, JR Rayah Marshall recorded her sixth game with double-digit rebounds this season.
A sluggish first quarter turned into an all-out shootout as both teams turned up the heat in the second quarter. Both squads shot over 56 percent from the floor in the second quarter. USC's JuJu Watkins scored the Trojans' first bucket to break up an early USC scoring slump to help the Trojans turn the tide. USC had trailed UCLA by 10 in the first quarter and wound up battling back and getting out ahead in the second. By halftime, the Bruins had a 38-37 edge on the scoreboard. UCLA also led the rebounding battle 22-17 by the break, although USC was ahead on the scoring front, going 40.7 percent from the floor to UCLA's 36.8 percent. The Bruins had landed six 3-pointers, though, to help them counter USC's first-half efforts. It was a one-point game with six minutes to go before two more key UCLA threes built a margin that aided the hosts to the finish line. The Bruins made eight 3-pointers to USC's five, and controlled the boards to the tune of a 48-37 advantage. USC finished out the game shooting 33.3 percent overall, and UCLA wrapped at 35.2 percent.
USC received a game-high 27 points from Watkins, who also tallied a double-double in hauling in 11 rebounds, with McKenzie Forbes scoring 23 points for the Trojans, while Rayah Marshall pulled in a game-high 13 rebounds. UCLA had four players finish in double digits, led by London Jones' 21 points with five 3-pointers made. Lauren Betts had 15 points, Kiki Rice had 12, and Charisma Osborne scored 10 for the Bruins.
USC was scoreless from the floor for the first eight minutes of the game, with only a pair of free throws falling for the Trojans as the Bruins built a 14-2 lead. JuJu Watkins broke the silence with a bucket that lit a fuse for the hosts, pouring in four straight free throws and then serving up an assist on a 3-pointer from Kayla Padilla to pull the Trojans to within three at the end of the first, down 14-11. A single UCLA free throw opened the second, and then Watkins went on another tear, converting on a three-point play and then landing a long one from beyond the arc to lift USC to a 17-15 lead. Rayah Marshall, McKenzie Forbes and Kaitlyn Davis would all find their first scores from the floor in that frame, with USC moving out ahead 25-22 at 4:55. A Bruin 3-pointer pulled things even, and then a back-and-forth battle ensued. The lead traded hands 11 times in the last four minutes, with a late UCLA three nudging the hosts ahead 38-37 for halftime.
The foul count tipped against the Trojans to open the third while the Bruins got off on an early 6-0 surge. Marshall broke things up with a score in the paint for the Trojans, only to see UCLA manufacture another 6-0 push to lead it 50-39 with 5:15 on the clock. Again, it was a strike from Watkins that helped steady the Trojans, who followed up another UCLA trip to the free-throw line with a score from Clarice Akunwafo and a 3-pointer from Forbes for a lift to make it a 52-46 margin. Another Forbes three and a smooth jumper from Watkins made it 56-51 in the final minute, although UCLA found the final basket of the frame to lead it 58-51 entering the fourth. USC chipped the deficit down to one with some gutsy work from Forbes and then a 3-pointer from Watkins to get it to 60-59 with 6:00 to go. A couple tough UCLA threes would created some space for the hosts, who moved ahead 68-61 on their eighth 3-pointer of the night. Free throws would be the only tosses to fall in the final four minutes for both teams, and UCLA emerged with a final 71-64 victory to hand USC its first loss of the season.
NEXT:
USC gets back to Galen Center for its first Pac-12 home games of the season, hosting the Oregon schools next week. The Trojans take on Oregon State at 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 5) and then face Oregon at 12 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 7).
NOTABLE:
- This was the first-ever meeting between USC and UCLA where both teams entered the game undefeated.
- Ranked No. 6 and No. 2 respectively, this was the first time since 1981 that USC and UCLA have faced each other while ranked in the AP top 10.
- With a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds, FR JuJu Watkins recorded her second career double-double.
- Watkins has now led USC in scoring in every game she's played as a Trojan.
- With a game-high 13 rebounds, JR Rayah Marshall recorded her sixth game with double-digit rebounds this season.
Women's Basketball Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Media Availability 9/18/25
Thursday, September 18
USC WBB's Lindsay Gottlieb, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen | Trojan Press Conference
Monday, March 31
USC WBB heads to the Elite 8, defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16 | Rapid Reaction
Saturday, March 29
Kennedy Smith on USC WBB heading to the Elite Eight, Trojan freshmen getting the job done
Saturday, March 29
