Bruins Down Trojans, Secure Regular-Season Sweep over USC
Los Angeles, Calif. – Charisma Osborne was dominant on Sunday evening at Galen Center, scoring 27 points to help UCLA (9-4, 4-1) earn its fourth-straight win with a 68-58 victory over USC (9-7, 2-4). The win was the Bruins' fourth-straight against USC, as UCLA secured the regular-season crosstown sweep.
IImar'I Thomas (14 pts) and Natalie Chou (10 pts) joined Osborne in double figures for the Bruins. Alissa Pili, Jordyn Jenkins, and Tera Reed each contributed 13 points apiece for USC.
Game Summary
Triples from Osborne and Natalie Chou helped put the Bruins ahead, 9-4, after the first two minutes of action at Galen. It was 14-9 out of the first media stoppage before Chou and Dominique Onu connected from long range to push UCLA's lead to 11 at the 2:37 mark. The teams exchanged baskets and UCLA took a 24-16 lead into the second quarter.
UCLA led by seven at the 7:53 mark before Reed knocked down a triple from the right side, cutting the score to 26-22 (6:55). It was then 28-25 when Osborne stopped a quick run from the Trojans with a lefty layup in the paint. Both teams struggled from the field in the second half of the frame, but Osborne held strong from the free throw line and helped the Bruins take a 38-29 lead into the break.
Osborne compiled 18 points in the first two quarters and went 8-for-9 from the line. Reed was USC's top scorer with 10 points. Jordyn Jenkins and Pili totaled six points apiece.
The Trojans opened the quarter with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 38 with under seven minutes to play in the third quarter. Chou answered with a fade-away jumper from the left side, but Reed converted a driving bucket inside at the other end (40-40). The Bruins would storm back, taking a 48-42 lead behind free throws from Osborne and a bucket inside from Thomas. UCLA would take a 52-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
The teams exchanged baskets to open the fourth quarter and the Bruins held a 57-51 lead at the 4:49 media stoppage. Thomas then found Izzy Anstey on a beautiful feed, pushing UCLA's lead to eight before a timeout from The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach at the 3:57 mark. UCLA would hold strong on defense and convert from the line, going on to win by a score of 68-58.
Up Next: UCLA vs Arizona (Jan. 26)
The Bruins are back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 26 for a primetime matchup against Arizona. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network. Dave Marcus' radio call can be heard at ucla.leanplayer.com.