No. 9 UCLA Posts 59-46 Rivalry Win Over USC Women At Pauley Pavilion

Friday, February 2

Los Angeles, CA

8:00 PM

USC

15-7, 5-6

UCLA

18-4, 9-2

Team	1	2	3	4	F
USC	11	8	14	13	46
#9 UCLA	18	15	9	17	59

Highlights

Photo by: John McGillen

February 02, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Features

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)WATCH: USC HIGHLIGHTS

Kristen Simon notches her 26th career double-double.

WESTWOOD, CALIF. — The USC women's basketball team outscored No. 9 UCLA in the second half of action but the Trojans' first-half struggles and the Bruins' 3-point effort kept USC out of reach in an eventual 59-46 UCLA victory tonight at Pauley Pavilion. In the first of two crosstown rivalry clashes in a four-day span, the highly ranked Bruins held their ground on home turf. On Monday (Feb. 5), USC will look to return the favor when the Trojans host the second rivalry matchup at 6 p.m. at Galen Center. USC goes to 15-7 overall and to 5-6 in Pac-12 play with tonight's loss to the No. 9 Bruins, who improve to 18-4, 9-2.

UCLA got a jump on the Trojans in each quarter of play, opening the game with a 10-0 run, making a 7-0 start in the second, and 4-0 to start the third and fourth quarters. USC was able to carve a 33-19 halftime deficit down to eight during the fourth period, but the Bruins landed three back-breaking 3-pointers in the final three minutes to hold off the Trojans. USC outscored UCLA 27-26 in the second half.

USC ended the game shooting a season-low 28.3 percent from the floor, while UCLA shot 35.7 percent and won out on the boards 48-33. Still, USC's Kristen Simon was able to register her 26th career double-double in leading the Trojans with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Minyon Moore added 10 points and four assists. UCLA was paced by 16 points from Jordin Canada, who had just three at halftime but nailed three 3-pointers in the second half. Monique Billings had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, and Kelli Hayes scored 11 points for UCLA.

USC will play back-to-back games against the Bruins, hosting UCLA on Monday (Feb. 5) at 6 p.m. at Galen Center in another Pac-12 Network televised matchup.