No. 2 UCLA, No. 6 USC set for pivotal women’s basketball clash
UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close has been outspoken in terms of drumming up support for her sport, especially for Southern California’s college teams. She’s verbally encouraged fans to come out to games and regularly expresses gratitude for the media covering the games during press conferences.
Close will have the support she wished for Saturday evening when No. 6 USC plays No. 2 UCLA in front of a sold-out Pauley Pavilion.
“I’m just so grateful,” Close said. “I actually was recruiting with (USC coach) Lindsay (Gottlieb) last night, and we both were just like, this is just so good for our game. And we want this to be something we look back on for years and go, this is when Southern California basketball hit a major tipping point.”
The last time the teams played as top-10 opponents was in 1981 when they squared off three times, with UCLA winning two of three. This is the first time both are undefeated heading into a game. UCLA is on an eight-game win streak against USC, but the Bruins edged the Trojans by only one point in their previous meeting.
USC (10-0) also has the addition of true freshman JuJu Watkins this season, who has had five 30-point games this season and set a school record for most points by a freshman in her season debut when she scored 32 points in an upset of then-No. 7 Ohio State.
“There’s a lot of history between the two schools,” Watkins said on ESPN SportsCenter. “Coming to SC, I think that was one of my dreams, to be able to feel that atmosphere and the rivalry. There’s so much excitement going into the game so I’m excited but also prepared.”
While Watkins has been making waves in her first year at USC, center Lauren Betts is making her mark in her first season at UCLA (11-0). The 6-foot-7 Stanford transfer has surprised even Close, who heavily recruited her and coached her in USA basketball.
“She is ahead of where I thought she would be at this point,” Close said. “I thought she’d be hitting this stride maybe end of January.”
Betts is averaging nearly a double-double, with 16.9 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game, and has logged an additional 22 blocks. She leads the team in all three categories. Kiki Rice is right behind her in scoring with 14.5 points per game, and three other players are averaging in double digits as well.
Junior center/forward Rayah Marshall could be another threat for USC on offense and defense with 14.3 points and 10 rebounds per game and a total of 18 blocks.
“Super just nice person in general,” Betts said of Marshall, “but she’s a really talented player. Super strong, athletic post. It’ll be really fun to match up against her and she’s one of my good friends.”
With so much offensive power on both sides, the outcome of this matchup could come down to defense and limiting mistakes. UCLA ranks second in the Pac-12 and sixth nationally in terms of rebounds per game with 47.6 and five Bruins pull down five or more rebounds per game.
UCLA has seen ranked competition like UConn, Florida State and Ohio State throughout its nonconference schedule. USC has played one ranked opponent in Ohio State. Both teams will get an opportunity for more as the Pac-12 is loaded this season – below the Bruins and Trojans in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 are No. 8 Colorado, No. 9 Stanford and No. 12 Utah
Saturday’s conference opener is an opportunity to set the tone for what could come this season – and in front of a massive crowd.
“It’s great that we get to open up with SC because obviously they’re our rivals,” Rice said, “but the Pac-12 has so many great ranked teams this year. It will be good for us to start off conference play with a big game to kind of set the tone for the level that we’re going to need to be playing at over these next weeks.”
No. 6 USC at No. 2 UCLA
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Pauley Pavilion
TV: Pac-12 Network