Sunday marked Senior Night for the USC women’s basketball team at the Galen Center, but it was the visitors’ seniors who stole the show. UCLA seniors Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, and Lauren Betts led the Bruins to a decisive 73-50 victory over their rival.
Jaquez scored 14 points, Rice contributed 11 points and four assists, and Betts dominated the boards with 15 rebounds. With the win, UCLA wrapped up the regular season undefeated in conference play for the first time since going 18-0 in the Pac-10 during the 1998-99 season under coach Kathy Olivier.
Having already clinched the regular-season title, UCLA became the first team to navigate the Big Ten schedule without a loss since Maryland accomplished the feat in 2014-15. The Bruins extended their winning streak to 22 games—just one shy of the school record they set last season.
Since their only loss to then-No. 4 Texas on November 26 in Las Vegas, UCLA has recorded 16 wins by 20 or more points, showcasing their dominance throughout the season.
Ranked second nationally in both the AP and Coaches’ polls, just behind defending national champion Connecticut (30-0), UCLA secured the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament in Indianapolis. The Bruins also earned a bye into the quarterfinals, scheduled for Friday.
Charlisse Leger-Walker led UCLA with a game-high 20 points, while Gianna Kneepkens added 14 points and five assists. The Bruins held USC to 27% shooting in their first meeting, a 34-point victory at Pauley Pavilion on January 3, fueled by Betts’ 18 points. That game marked USC’s most lopsided loss under coach Lindsay Gottlieb.
On Senior Night, USC shot 39% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, finishing just 3-for-19 on three-point attempts. UCLA jumped out to an early 14-4 lead within the first five minutes, carrying a 19-11 advantage into the second quarter.
The Bruins extended their lead to 18 points by halftime, holding the Trojans scoreless for the last 3:08 of the first half. USC responded with an 11-2 run to open the second half, but UCLA maintained control to secure their impressive victory.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2026-03-01/ucla-women-dominate-rival-usc-to-finish-big-ten-play-undefeated