The UCLA ladies’s basketball workforce makes historical past in a 77-62 win over defending champion South Carolina.
It was UCLA’s first-ever win over a top-ranked opponent.
The Bruins ended South Carolina’s 43-game profitable streak.
There’s going to be a brand new No. 1 workforce in ladies’s school basketball.
It’d simply be UCLA.
The Bruins made their case in compelling style Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion, dominating the nation’s top-ranked workforce from the sport’s opening minutes.
Beginning with smothering protection that led to simple baskets, No. 5 UCLA completely outclassed No. 1 South Carolina, 77-62, ending the defending nationwide champions’ 43-game profitable streak.
Calling it a historic victory is not any overstatement. The Bruins had by no means beforehand overwhelmed a top-ranked workforce, having gone 0 for 20.
With the end result lengthy determined, UCLA college students broke out an “Overrated!” chant within the closing minute.
A sellout crowd that included UCLA basketball luminaries Ann Meyers-Drysdale, Marques Johnson, Noelle Quinn and Natalie Nakase watched the Bruins begin the celebration halfway by means of the fourth quarter after three consecutive offensive rebounds led to a three-pointer by Angela Dugalić that gave the Bruins a 68-46 lead.
UCLA middle Lauren Betts, proper, tries to steal the ball away from South Carolina ahead Chloe Kitts within the first half Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
The Gamecocks couldn’t match the toughness of Bruins middle Lauren Betts (11 factors and 14 rebounds), the long-range capturing of guard Londynn Jones (15 factors on 5 three-pointers) or the all-around play of guard Elina Aarnisalo (13 factors, 4 assists and three rebounds), who displayed their abilities in entrance of 10 WNBA scouts and executives representing six groups, together with the Sparks.
UCLA (5-0) by no means trailed and made it troublesome for South Carolina to get first rate pictures within the early going. When Gamecocks ahead Chloe Kitts acquired the ball within the paint, Betts immediately materialized to smother her and rip the ball away for a steal. South Carolina (5-1) didn’t rating for greater than 5 minutes into the sport.
By the point Jones rose for a three-pointer to present the Bruins a 15-2 lead, the Gamecocks had missed 11 of 12 pictures and dedicated 4 turnovers. A timeout by coach Daybreak Staley did little to assist.
UCLA’s stifling protection continued into the second quarter when level guard Kiki Rice (11 factors) anticipated a cross, grabbed the ball for a steal and went in for a layup wherein she was fouled. Rice set free a triumphant roar as teammate Gabriela Jaquez draped an arm over her shoulder. It was all Bruins by the sport’s midpoint as they held a 43-22 lead.
The enjoyable was simply getting began for UCLA.
