USC Upsets UCLA in Thrilling Women’s Basketball Showdown

LOS ANGELES (AP) — JuJu Watkins led the No. 6 Southern California Trojans to a stunning 71-60 victory over the previously undefeated No. 1 UCLA Bruins on Thursday. The matchup, held at USC’s Galen Center, marked a pivotal moment in the women’s college basketball landscape.

Watkins delivered an impressive performance, scoring 38 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, blocking eight shots, and handing out five assists. Her dominant display was crucial as the Trojans (22-2, 12-1 Pac-12) seized first place in the conference standings.

“This was a special win, not just because of what it means in the standings, but for our program’s spirit,” said USC head coach Lindsey Gottlieb. “JuJu showed why she’s one of the best players in the country.”

USC initially surged ahead, leading by 14 points in the first half. However, UCLA (23-1, 11-1) responded with a 14-1 run, tying the game in the second quarter and eventually taking a seven-point lead in the third.

Despite the Bruins’ brief resurgence, USC regained control late in the game, closing it out with a decisive 16-4 run that sealed their triumph.

In another notable matchup, No. 2 Notre Dame triumphed over Pitt with a convincing score of 88-57. Olivia Miles led the Fighting Irish with 28 points, while Sonia Citron added 22, helping Notre Dame extend their winning streak to 17 games.

Notably, Hannah Hidalgo, who had been averaging 25.9 points per game this season, struggled, finishing with just 11 points on 3-for-17 shooting.

USC’s win wasn’t the only upset of the night, as No. 10 North Carolina State narrowly defeated Miami, 76-74. Madison Hayes shone with 19 points, marking an impressive week for ACC teams trying to secure better playoff positions.

The night featured other competitive games as well, with No. 3 Texas defeating No. 8 Kentucky, 67-49; No. 4 South Carolina claiming a strong victory over Florida, 101-63; and No. 12 North Carolina edging out Virginia Tech, 67-62. Each match further highlighted the intensity and unpredictability of women’s collegiate basketball as the season draws closer to conference tournaments.

Looking forward, USC will aim to maintain their momentum while UCLA seeks to bounce back and re-establish themselves as the dominant force they’ve displayed throughout the season.