The rivalry hostilities started more than an hour before tipoff.
In the upper deck of the Galen Center, a group of UCLA fans broke out an eight-clap. Hearing the audible affront, USC students gathered behind a nearby basket clapped back.
That was about as spicy as it got Sunday afternoon.
Taking a double-digit lead less than five minutes into the game, the second-ranked Bruins ran away with a 73-50 victory that served as affirmation of the teams’ differing trajectories.
While UCLA (28-1, 18-0 Big Ten) is seeking the school’s first NCAA title, USC (17-12, 9-9) is simply trying to make the NCAA Tournament without injured superstar JuJu Watkins.
Overmatched from the opening minute, reminders of the Trojans’ greatness sat courtside with Watkins on the bench and legend Cheryl Miller across the way in a “BEAT UCLA” T-shirt.
That sentiment was nothing more than an unfulfilled wish on a day the Bruins went up by 18 at halftime. They went on to sweep the regular-season series and post a third straight victory over the Trojans in part by dominating the rebounding battle, 47-22.
UCLA also made history by completing the first unbeaten Big Ten regular season since Maryland did it in 2014-15.
It was a sad senior day sendoff for USC’s Kara Dunn and Londynn Jones before a sellout crowd. Dunn finished with eight points, and Jones — who started her career at UCLA — had nine.
The Trojans made a run to start the third quarter, briefly pulling to within single digits, before a corner 3-pointer from Gabriela Jaquez helped send the Bruins on their way to a 22nd consecutive victory.
What it means
In the latest reveal of the top seeds for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, the selection committee put UCLA behind UConn for the No. 1 seed overall. Beating USC won’t change that but it certainly preserves the Bruins’ ability to challenge for the top spot.
Losers of three straight games, USC might have some work to do in the Big Ten Tournament to ensure it’s going to make the NCAA Tournament. But the Trojans entered the day an impressive No. 22 in the NET rankings, with four Quad 1 wins to their credit.
Turning point
When UCLA boarded its team bus in Westwood.
Clearly at a different level than their rival, the Bruins have won the two crosstown rivalry games this season by a combined 57 points.
MVP
Often the overlooked player in UCLA’s starting lineup, Charlisse-Leger Walker once again displayed her value.
With the Trojans keeping things reasonably close late in the third quarter, Leger-Walker made a jumper and followed it with a steal and a 3-pointer to give her team a 57-36 lead. She finished with 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Up next
Both teams are headed to the Big Ten Tournament, though with wildly different paths to a title. While top-seeded UCLA gets a double bye into the quarterfinals on Friday, ninth-seeded USC will play eighth-seeded Washington on Thursday.
That could set up a rivalry rematch in the quarterfinal.
