Sunday, March 9
Indianapolis, Ind.
1:30 p.m.
UCLA
30-2,15-2Big Ten
72
vs
67
USC
28-3,16-1Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
UCLA
19
16
17
20
72
Southern California
24
21
9
13
67
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Women’s Basketball Captures Big Ten Championship Over Trojans, 72-67
March 09, 2025 | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2-seed UCLA Women's Basketball team (30-2, 16-2 Big Ten) won the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Championship game over the No. 1-seed USC on Sunday afternoon, 72-67. UCLA captures its first conference championship since 2006 and eclipses 30 wins in a season for the first time in program history.
Junior Lauren Betts scored 17 points in the Bruins' second-ever conference championship win over the Trojans (28-3, 16-1 Big Ten). Betts recorded her 1,000th career point as a Bruin and added with five rebounds, four steals, four blocks, and two assists.
Junior Londynn Jones hit three 3-pointers in the game to finish with 13 points and become the fourth player in UCLA Women's Basketball history to record over 200 three-pointers. Junior Kiki Rice also scored 13 points and had eight assists in the championship win.
Both teams got off to a quick start but the Bruins were outscored by the Trojans 19-24 in the first quarter. The Bruins' defense forced a turnover on the first possession of the game which led to a layup by Gabriela Jaquez. Angela Dugalić and Londynn Jones each hit a three-pointer before USC went on a 12-0 run to establish the first Trojan lead of the game. The Bruins were held without a field goal for nearly two minutes until Timea Gardiner laced a 3-point shot. Gardiner hit another 3-pointer and Kiki Rice made a late layup in transition to put the Bruins within two possessions of the Trojans.
USC outscored UCLA 21-16 in the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead going into halftime. Freshman Kendall Dudley scored the first points of the quarter by capitalizing off of her own offensive rebound. Dugalić and Jones each hit deep threes and Lauren Betts scored to contribute to a 7-0 run by the Bruins. USC responded to this run with a 9-0 run of their own, due in part to UCLA's 10 turnovers in the first half. The score after two quarters was 45-35.
The Bruins were effective on both ends of the floor in the third quarter, outscoring the Trojans 17-9 and cutting the lead to two points. Betts was dominant, finishing with nine points in the frame without missing a shot. Jones and Gardiner both added to their three point totals and forced an early timeout from the Trojans. Rice hit a jump shot through a double team to contribute to a late 10-2 run. Betts grabbed a steal on the final possession to finish the third quarter with a score of 52-54.
UCLA was dominant in the final frame, scoring 20 points and holding USC to zero field goals made for nearly nine minutes. Betts was effective early in the quarter, beating the shot clock to tie the game at 54 points apiece. Rice was the team's leading scorer in the fourth quarter, recovering her own blocked shot and shooting 100 percent from the free throw line. Janiah Barker made an impact on both ends, finishing the quarter with four points and forcing a well-timed turnover. Betts finished the fourth frame with four points and three blocks. USC attempted to come back in the final minute, with Juju Watkins scoring five points in the final eleven seconds of the game. Jones hit the game's final free throws to secure UCLA's Big Ten Conference Championship win in its first year as members of the conference.
Junior Lauren Betts scored 17 points in the Bruins' second-ever conference championship win over the Trojans (28-3, 16-1 Big Ten). Betts recorded her 1,000th career point as a Bruin and added with five rebounds, four steals, four blocks, and two assists.
Junior Londynn Jones hit three 3-pointers in the game to finish with 13 points and become the fourth player in UCLA Women's Basketball history to record over 200 three-pointers. Junior Kiki Rice also scored 13 points and had eight assists in the championship win.
Both teams got off to a quick start but the Bruins were outscored by the Trojans 19-24 in the first quarter. The Bruins' defense forced a turnover on the first possession of the game which led to a layup by Gabriela Jaquez. Angela Dugalić and Londynn Jones each hit a three-pointer before USC went on a 12-0 run to establish the first Trojan lead of the game. The Bruins were held without a field goal for nearly two minutes until Timea Gardiner laced a 3-point shot. Gardiner hit another 3-pointer and Kiki Rice made a late layup in transition to put the Bruins within two possessions of the Trojans.
KiKi Rice picks it off and finishes at the hoop on the fast break ??@kiki_rice0 x @UCLAWBB pic.twitter.com/Z6mkDH8tYB
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 9, 2025
USC outscored UCLA 21-16 in the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead going into halftime. Freshman Kendall Dudley scored the first points of the quarter by capitalizing off of her own offensive rebound. Dugalić and Jones each hit deep threes and Lauren Betts scored to contribute to a 7-0 run by the Bruins. USC responded to this run with a 9-0 run of their own, due in part to UCLA's 10 turnovers in the first half. The score after two quarters was 45-35.
The Bruins were effective on both ends of the floor in the third quarter, outscoring the Trojans 17-9 and cutting the lead to two points. Betts was dominant, finishing with nine points in the frame without missing a shot. Jones and Gardiner both added to their three point totals and forced an early timeout from the Trojans. Rice hit a jump shot through a double team to contribute to a late 10-2 run. Betts grabbed a steal on the final possession to finish the third quarter with a score of 52-54.
LB fights through the contact! ??
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 9, 2025
??: CBS#GoBruins | @gabrielarj11 x @laurenbetts12 pic.twitter.com/U6BIuEkPYI
UCLA was dominant in the final frame, scoring 20 points and holding USC to zero field goals made for nearly nine minutes. Betts was effective early in the quarter, beating the shot clock to tie the game at 54 points apiece. Rice was the team's leading scorer in the fourth quarter, recovering her own blocked shot and shooting 100 percent from the free throw line. Janiah Barker made an impact on both ends, finishing the quarter with four points and forcing a well-timed turnover. Betts finished the fourth frame with four points and three blocks. USC attempted to come back in the final minute, with Juju Watkins scoring five points in the final eleven seconds of the game. Jones hit the game's final free throws to secure UCLA's Big Ten Conference Championship win in its first year as members of the conference.
This sequence was SOMETHING ?? @UCLAWBB#B1GWBBT on CBS ?? pic.twitter.com/AiZNt82Xc0
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) March 9, 2025
Team Stats
UCLA
USC
FG%
.523
.343
3FG%
.533
.286
FT%
.857
.846
RB
27
38
TO
24
19
STL
10
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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