Thursday, December 15
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM
UCLA
10-1,1-0Pac-12
59
at
56
USC
9-1,0-1Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
UCLA
16
23
13
7
59
Southern California
14
14
16
12
56
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Bruins Hang on to Beat USC 59-56 in Crosstown Showdown
December 15, 2022 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โ No. 10 UCLA (10-1, 1-0) claimed its first conference victory of the season over crosstown rival USC (9-1, 0-1), handing the Trojans their first loss of the season inside the Galen Center Thursday night. The Bruins have won seven-consecutive games against USC, dating back to Jan. 17, 2020.
"There's certain points in seasons where you say 'defense and rebounding have to be our anchor,' so when you have tough offensive nights, it can hold you," said The Michael Price Family UCLA Head Women's Basketball Coach Cori Close. "Intellectually, you know, you believe it, but you have to go grab it in a game like this. It becomes a reference point for the rest of the year [โฆ] We didn't shoot it very well, but what I really appreciated was [the Bruins'] mental toughness."
UCLA held USC to 34.5% shooting from the field, and the Trojans struggled from the line (12-20 FT) despite nearly doubling the Bruins' charity stripe attempts. The Trojan's matched UCLA defensive rebounding totals, but the Bruins cleaned the offensive glass and came away with 20 offensive boards to USC's nine. UCLA outscored USC 23-12 on second chance efforts outscored the Trojans 36-26 in the paint.
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The Bruins were led by redshirt sophomore Emily Bessoir, who totaled 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-5 3FG) and seven rebounds in the win. Bessoir grabbed five offensive rebounds and swatted away one shot in just under 26 minutes of play.
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Senior Charisma Osborne (14 PTS, 13 REB) claimed her third double-double of the season, matching her season total from each of her first three years. Osborne moves into sole possession of seventh place for the most double-doubles for a Bruin since the 2009-10 season, passing Nirra Fields (11 double-doubles). ย Freshman Kiki Rice added 14 points, a steal and two blocks in 35 minutes on Thursday.
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The Bruins and Trojans were locked in a tight battle through the first quarter. Charisma Osborne had six points and two steals in the first ten minutes, and four more Bruins added buckets in the period. The Trojans shot 6-for-14 in the first, and only two players โ Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton โ scored for USC in the quarter.
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UCLA's offense found a rhythm in the second quarter behind the dual threat of Bessoir (8 PTS, 3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG) and Rice (9 PTS, 4-7 FG). The duo scored 11 points in the final 1:48 of the period to push the Bruins lead to double digits before halftime. Bessoir hit a three off an Osborne offensive rebound, then Rice sunk a fast break layup through contact by a Trojan forward before sinking the and-one free throw. Lina Sontag (2 PTS, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK) grabbed the errant USC pass ย that set up Rice's old-fashioned three-point play.
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The Bruins led 39-28 going into the half.
UCLA's offensive woes began in the third period, slowing the momentum it had built before halftime. The Bruins made just one basket, a Bessoir layup, in the first six minutes of the second half. The Bruins shot just 4-for-19 from the field in the third. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Christeen Iwuala went to work in the paint to end UCLA's scoring drought with 3:41 left in the period.
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The Trojans battled back, scoring five-consecutive points to bring it to a one-score game at 45-42. The Bruins would go on a 7-2 run to close the quarter, though, and head into the final period with an eight-point lead (52-44).
In a low-scoring fourth quarter, the Bruins squeaked out just seven points in the final 10 minutes. UCLA held USC to 12 points in the quarter. The Trojans brought it within one point (Q4, 4:43 | 52-51) but were never able to secure the lead. Bessoir, Rice and Camryn Brown made key buckets down the stretch to help lift the Bruins to a five-point lead. With 1:35 on the clock, Sissoko sunk a layup to cut UCLA's lead to three. The Trojans got a stop with one minute left on the board. The Bruins got a stop 19 seconds later. Brown attempted a driving hook shot just outside the paint with 12 seconds remaining, but the ball hit the back of the rim too hard and bounced into a Trojan's hands. USC called a timeout with 11.8 seconds on the clock for one last attempt, but Gina Conti jumped a passing lane to help the Bruins hold on to the win.
UP NEXT: CSU Bakersfield (Dec. 17)
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The Bruins (10-1) have a quick turnaround before taking on their next opponent, CSU Bakersfield. UCLA is back in action at home on Saturday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
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"There's certain points in seasons where you say 'defense and rebounding have to be our anchor,' so when you have tough offensive nights, it can hold you," said The Michael Price Family UCLA Head Women's Basketball Coach Cori Close. "Intellectually, you know, you believe it, but you have to go grab it in a game like this. It becomes a reference point for the rest of the year [โฆ] We didn't shoot it very well, but what I really appreciated was [the Bruins'] mental toughness."
UCLA held USC to 34.5% shooting from the field, and the Trojans struggled from the line (12-20 FT) despite nearly doubling the Bruins' charity stripe attempts. The Trojan's matched UCLA defensive rebounding totals, but the Bruins cleaned the offensive glass and came away with 20 offensive boards to USC's nine. UCLA outscored USC 23-12 on second chance efforts outscored the Trojans 36-26 in the paint.
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The Bruins were led by redshirt sophomore Emily Bessoir, who totaled 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-5 3FG) and seven rebounds in the win. Bessoir grabbed five offensive rebounds and swatted away one shot in just under 26 minutes of play.
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Senior Charisma Osborne (14 PTS, 13 REB) claimed her third double-double of the season, matching her season total from each of her first three years. Osborne moves into sole possession of seventh place for the most double-doubles for a Bruin since the 2009-10 season, passing Nirra Fields (11 double-doubles). ย Freshman Kiki Rice added 14 points, a steal and two blocks in 35 minutes on Thursday.
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The Bruins and Trojans were locked in a tight battle through the first quarter. Charisma Osborne had six points and two steals in the first ten minutes, and four more Bruins added buckets in the period. The Trojans shot 6-for-14 in the first, and only two players โ Kadi Sissoko and Destiny Littleton โ scored for USC in the quarter.
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UCLA's offense found a rhythm in the second quarter behind the dual threat of Bessoir (8 PTS, 3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG) and Rice (9 PTS, 4-7 FG). The duo scored 11 points in the final 1:48 of the period to push the Bruins lead to double digits before halftime. Bessoir hit a three off an Osborne offensive rebound, then Rice sunk a fast break layup through contact by a Trojan forward before sinking the and-one free throw. Lina Sontag (2 PTS, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK) grabbed the errant USC pass ย that set up Rice's old-fashioned three-point play.
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HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER!
โ Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) December 16, 2022
?? Pac-12 Network
??https://t.co/L0nxrwrvvU #Pac12WBB | @UCLAWBB pic.twitter.com/MMgyJxvEJ7
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The Bruins led 39-28 going into the half.
UCLA's offensive woes began in the third period, slowing the momentum it had built before halftime. The Bruins made just one basket, a Bessoir layup, in the first six minutes of the second half. The Bruins shot just 4-for-19 from the field in the third. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Christeen Iwuala went to work in the paint to end UCLA's scoring drought with 3:41 left in the period.
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She's an artist, @ChristeenIwuala LOVES the paint ??
โ UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 16, 2022
??: Pac-12 Los Angeles
??: https://t.co/OsLAvB31kX #GoBruins | #Pac12WBB pic.twitter.com/BpKSji1vqV
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The Trojans battled back, scoring five-consecutive points to bring it to a one-score game at 45-42. The Bruins would go on a 7-2 run to close the quarter, though, and head into the final period with an eight-point lead (52-44).
In a low-scoring fourth quarter, the Bruins squeaked out just seven points in the final 10 minutes. UCLA held USC to 12 points in the quarter. The Trojans brought it within one point (Q4, 4:43 | 52-51) but were never able to secure the lead. Bessoir, Rice and Camryn Brown made key buckets down the stretch to help lift the Bruins to a five-point lead. With 1:35 on the clock, Sissoko sunk a layup to cut UCLA's lead to three. The Trojans got a stop with one minute left on the board. The Bruins got a stop 19 seconds later. Brown attempted a driving hook shot just outside the paint with 12 seconds remaining, but the ball hit the back of the rim too hard and bounced into a Trojan's hands. USC called a timeout with 11.8 seconds on the clock for one last attempt, but Gina Conti jumped a passing lane to help the Bruins hold on to the win.
UP NEXT: CSU Bakersfield (Dec. 17)
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The Bruins (10-1) have a quick turnaround before taking on their next opponent, CSU Bakersfield. UCLA is back in action at home on Saturday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
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Team Stats
UCLA
USC
FG%
.329
.345
3FG%
.130
.375
FT%
.727
.600
RB
47
36
TO
8
10
STL
7
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
4
FGM
0
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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