UCLA Women Complete Perfect Big Ten
No. 2 ranked UCLA women's basketball capped an undefeated Big Ten regular season by defeating USC, with Gabriela Jaquez among the standouts. The Bruins' historic perfect conference run positions them as serious national title contenders.
The undefeated run marks the first perfect conference season in UCLA women's basketball history. The team's 18-0 Big Ten record is the first in the conference since Maryland accomplished the feat in the 2014-15 season. In the 73-50 victory over USC, the Bruins dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Trojans 47-22, including a 22-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Senior center Lauren Betts was a key factor, pulling down 15 rebounds, nine of which were on the offensive glass. Graduate guard Charlisse Leger-Walker led all scorers with 20 points in the win against USC. During the game, both Leger-Walker and fellow graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens surpassed 2,000 career points. This historic season includes the program's first-ever outright conference title, secured with a win over Wisconsin before the regular-season finale. The Bruins' only loss of the season came against then-No. 4 Texas on November 26. Head coach Cori Close, the winningest coach in program history, has guided a roster deep with veteran talent. The senior class includes six key players, with five projected to be selected in the WNBA Draft, including potential No. 1 pick Lauren Betts. The Bruins now enter the Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis as the No. 1 seed. They will play their first game in the quarterfinals on Friday against the winner of the game between No. 8 seed Washington and No. 9 seed USC. UCLA is projected to be a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The NCAA selection committee's latest reveal placed the Bruins as the second overall No. 1 seed, behind only undefeated UConn.
