UCLA Women Go Undefeated in Big Ten
No. 2-ranked UCLA women's basketball completed a perfect Big Ten season by beating USC, with forward Gabriela Jaquez leading the way. This marks UCLA's successful transition to their new conference with championship momentum.
The Bruins' perfect 18-0 Big Ten record is the first time a team has gone undefeated in conference play since Maryland accomplished the feat in the 2014-15 season. Their overall record stands at 28-1, with their only loss coming to then-No. 4 Texas on November 26. In their victory over USC, the final score was 73-50. Graduate guard Charlisse Leger-Walker led all scorers with 20 points, matching her season high. Senior Gabriela Jaquez contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while senior Lauren Betts pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds. This season marks UCLA's second year in the Big Ten Conference after moving from the Pac-12. The transition was officially announced on June 30, 2022, and took effect on August 2, 2024. As the top seed, UCLA has earned a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. They will play their first game in the quarterfinals on Friday against the winner of the second-round matchup between No. 8 seed Washington and No. 9 seed USC. The Bruins are projected to be a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The official bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15.
