USC vs. UCLA live updates: Score, highlights, stats from top-10 matchup

Posted by author February 14, 2025 Basketball

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LOS ANGELES — When UCLA and Southern California face off Thursday night, it will be more than just a matchup between crosstown rivals. It will be two top-10 teams meeting in what could be a preview of the Final Four.

The spotlight will be shining on the City of Angels as the Bruins and Trojans meet again. With star center Lauren Betts, UCLA is the No. 1 team in the country and, at 23-0, the only undefeated team left. On the other side, star JuJu Watkins and USC are 21-2, a deeply-talent squad still building off last season’s success. The Trojans will be at home playing in a sold-out Galen Center.

While both sides know each other well, this will be the first time the rivals face off as Big Ten foes. The two teams have handled their new conference well − UCLA is in first while USC is in second. Thursday is the first of two meetings between the two teams, but they both carry equal importance as both sides prepare for a deep run in March.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for live updates and highlights from the top-10 showdown in Los Angeles:

It’s become the JuJu Watkins show. She has 21 of USC’s 34 points as the Trojans lead by 11 points halfway through the second quarter.

She’s been getting anything she wants, whether it’s been getting to the bucket or pulling up from 3-point land. She is 8-for-12 from the field and an astounding 5-for-6 from the field.

A buzzer-beating circus shot from USC’s Talia von Oelhoffen summed up what was a dominant first quarter for the Trojans, who lead the No. 1 team in the country by nine points at the end of the first 10 minutes.

It’s simply been USC knocking down shots and UCLA not. The Trojans are 8-for-15 (53.3%) from the field, with four of those shots from beyond the arc. Meanwhile the Bruins are 5-for-16 (31.1%) and only 1-for-7 from 3-point land. USC’s JuJu Watkins has a game-high 11 points.

The Trojans are on fire with a 14-2 run to take a 20-10 lead with two minutes in the first quarter, forcing UCLA to take a timeout.

USC is making shots with six of its last eight attempts going in.

The stars have come to play in Los Angeles with JuJu Watkins hot to start off Thursday’s contest. USC leads 11-8 with four and a half minutes to go in the first quarter.

Watkins has eight of those points, including two 3-point shots that have the Galen Center crowd rocking early. UCLA has gotten to the foul line and is 4-for-4 from the charity stripe but 2-for-6 from the field.

When is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game?

The game is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 13.

How to watch UCLA vs. USC

Date: Thursday, Feb. 13
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Streaming: Peacock

What channel is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game on?

USC and UCLA’s matchup on Thursday will be streamed exclusively on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service.

Kiki Rice, G
Londynn Jones, G
Gabriela Jaquez, F
Angela Dugalic, F
Lauren Betts, C

Kennedy Smith, G
JuJu Watkins, G
Talia von Oelhoffen, G
Rayah Marshall, F
Kiki Iriafen, F

Odds according to BetMGM

Spread: UCLA (-1.5)
Moneyline: UCLA (-115); USC (-105)
Over/under: 139.5

Record: 23-0
NET ranking: No. 5
Quad 1 record: 7-0
Quality wins: No. 4 South Carolina, Baylor, No. 15 Maryland, No. 8 Ohio State
Losses: None

Record: 21-2
NET ranking: No. 6
Quad 1 record: 6-2
Quality wins: Mississippi, No. 7 Connecticut, No. 15 Maryland, No. 8 Ohio State
Losses: No. 2 Notre Dame, Iowa

In January 2022, Cori Close and UCLA visited Lindsay Gottlieb and Southern California at the Galen Center in a matchup between middling crosstown rivals. The attendance in that game was 1,982 people in the 10,258 capacity arena.

Three years later, it’ll be hard to find an empty seat in Los Angeles.

A sold out crowd will be on hand to watch two of the best teams in the country finally meet Thursday night when top ranked and undefeated UCLA visits No. 6 USC in one of the biggest matchups in women’s college basketball.

“It’s great for LA,” Gottlieb said. “The energy is gonna be off the charts.”

– Read more about the matchup here.

UCLA women’s basketball is having its best season in program history, and it’s all thanks to a center dominating the paint.

Lauren Betts was a top-ranked recruit out of Aurora, Colorado, who committed to join a highly-stacked Stanford team under Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer, adding a potential star to one of the best frontcourts in the country.

However, Betts didn’t spend much time on the court. Her confidence was affected and it didn’t feel like a good fit. She entered the transfer portal after one season at Stanford. UCLA pushed hard to make her a Bruin, feeling like she could help the team take that next step toward a championship.

Now, in her second season at UCLA, Betts is elevating the Bruins and the team is eyeing its first Final Four berth. If Betts keeps up her standout play, there won’t be anything stopping UCLA from reaching Tampa.

– Read more about Betts here.

When JuJu Watkins decided to play for Southern California, part of the appeal was bringing glory back to her hometown. The banners from USC’s 1983 and 1984 championships have stood together for decades … without much expectation of adding a third one.

For as talented as she is – setting numerous freshman records in 2023-24 and guiding the Trojans to their first Elite Eight in 30 years – Watkins could only shoulder so much of the burden. While she commanded the backcourt and had a solidified post presence in Rayah Marshall, another star could have really elevated the team.

Luckily, Watkins has made USC the place to be, and another star joined the fold when Kiki Iriafen returned to her roots. She’s helped make the Trojans one of the championship favorites.

– Read more about Iriafen here.