Celebrating among themselves was not going to be sufficient on a day like this.
Moments after the UCLA women’s basketball team made history, players sprinted to celebrate with students who surged onto the court from the sellout crowd.
Center Lauren Betts hugged former teammates Charisma Osborne and Camryn Brown. Gabriela Jaquez and others high-fived courtside fans, recognizing the meaning of it all.
A New No. 1 Team?
It might just be the Bruins.
They made their case in compelling fashion Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion, fifth-ranked UCLA dominating top-ranked South Carolina with smothering defense on the way to a 77-62 victory that ended the defending national champions’ 43-game winning streak.
A Dominant Performance
UCLA center Lauren Betts, right, tries to steal the ball from South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts in the first half Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Just as striking as the ease with which the Bruins won the game was their nonchalance afterward.
“We expected to win,” UCLA coach Cori Close said, eliciting a nod from Betts as they sat next to each other to meet with reporters. “We have a phrase in our program that it begins before it begins, that you’ve got to do the work to prepare and it starts way before the tip. There just was never a doubt and prepared like we expected to win.”
A Historic Victory
Calling it a historic victory is no overstatement. The Bruins had never previously beaten a top-ranked team, having gone 0 for 20.
Close hailed it not as an arrival for her program but another step toward where it wants to go: a first NCAA championship.
“It’s Nov. 24,” Close said. “Am I proud of our team? Yes, but this is just the beginning, and we just can’t get tired of doing things right.”
A Strong Team Effort
A crowd that included UCLA basketball luminaries Ann Meyers-Drysdale, Marques Johnson, Noelle Quinn and Natalie Nakase watched the Bruins start the celebration midway through the fourth quarter after three consecutive offensive rebounds led to a three-pointer by Angela Dugalić that gave the Bruins a 68-46 lead.
The Gamecocks could not match the toughness of Betts (11 points and 14 rebounds), the long-range shooting of guard Londynn Jones (15 points on five-for-five three-point shooting) or the all-around play of guard Elina Aarnisalo (13 points, four assists and three rebounds). Each made a major impression in front of 10 WNBA scouts and executives representing six teams, including the Sparks.
A Stifling Defense
UCLA (5-0) never trailed and made it difficult for South Carolina to get decent shots in the early going. When Gamecocks forward Chloe Kitts got the ball in the paint, Betts suddenly materialized to rip the ball away for a steal. South Carolina (5-1) didn’t score for more than five minutes into the game.
“I think the No. 1 thing we did was we forced them into difficult shots,” Close said. “I thought they were taking shots that they didn’t want to have to take on a pretty consistent basis.”
Conclusion
UCLA’s stifling defense continued into the second quarter when point guard Kiki Rice (11 points) anticipated a pass, grabbed the ball for a steal and went in for a layup in which she was fouled. In just her second game back from a preseason injury, Rice let out a triumphant roar as Jaquez draped an arm over her shoulder. It was all Bruins by the game’s midpoint as they held a 43-22 advantage.
The fun was just getting started for UCLA.
FAQs
Q: Is UCLA now the No. 1 team in the country?
A: Coach Cori Close doesn’t seem to care about the rankings, focusing instead on the process of becoming great.
Q: What does this victory mean for UCLA’s program?
A: Close sees it as a step toward the program’s first NCAA championship, but also emphasizes the importance of sustaining their defensive intensity and improving their habits.
Q: Who led the Bruins to victory?
A: Lauren Betts had 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Londynn Jones scored 15 points on five-for-five three-point shooting, and Elina Aarnisalo had 13 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
