UConn, UCLA Finish Undefeated
UConn women's basketball completed a perfect regular season with a dominant win over St. John's, while No. 2 UCLA beat USC to finish their first Big Ten season undefeated. Both powerhouses are now positioned as top seeds heading into March Madness. Stanford also blew out Clemson to boost their tournament resume.
UConn's undefeated regular season is the 11th in the program's storied history. The Huskies have previously completed perfect seasons that culminated in national championships, part of a history that includes winning streaks of 111 and 90 consecutive games. In their final regular-season victory, the Huskies showcased their offensive depth by shooting 57.1% from the field, with six different players scoring at least nine points. The team now enters the Big East tournament as the top seed, seeking a sixth straight conference tournament title. UCLA's perfect 18-0 run through the Big Ten is a historic achievement for their first year in the conference. They are the first women's team to go undefeated in Big Ten play since Maryland accomplished the feat in the 2014-15 season. The Bruins' final victory over rival USC came without facing superstar JuJu Watkins, who was sidelined while rehabbing a torn ACL. A year ago, it was Watkins who scored 30 points against UCLA to clinch the conference title for the Trojans. UCLA dominated USC on the glass, outrebounding them 47-22, including a 22-5 advantage in offensive rebounds which led to 20 second-chance points. While center Lauren Betts was held to five points, she contributed 15 rebounds and five assists. Stanford's resume-building win was an offensive explosion against a top defensive team. Clemson entered the game leading the ACC by allowing just 58 points per game, but the Cardinal shot 55.7% from the field to score 85. The performance was led by Nunu Agara, who posted her seventh double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Hailee Swain, who scored a career-high 20 points.
