History was made in the Big Ten on Thursday.
No. 2 UCLA defeated Washington 82-67, a win that ensured the Bruins will, at worst, tie for the Big Ten regular-season championship.
With two games left, all UCLA has to do is win their next contest and they’ll be the sole champs of the Big Ten.
On Thursday they were led, as usual, by their senior Lauren Betts. She had a team-high 28 points along with eight rebounds in the win. Gianna Kneepkens shot lights out, scoring 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting and Angela Dugalić led the reserves with 10 points.
Advertisement
For Washington, Brynn McGaughy had a team-high 19 points and Avery Howell scored 17 points while grabbing seven rebounds in the loss.
How UCLA cruised to 16-0 in conference play
UCLA quickly established the terms of engagement in this contest. Betts was attacking inside the paint, scoring four of the Bruins’ first six points.
With Kiki Rice hitting a 3 and Dugalić and Kneepkens scoring as well, UCLA was in front 15-7.
The Huskies had a quick run midway through the period that gave them some hope. McGaughy scored on a layup off an assist by Sayvia Sellers, who then converted on a 3 to suddenly make it a one-possession game. However, UCLA countered with a make by Sienna Betts, and thanks to a 3 from Keepkens in the closing seconds of the first, the Bruins were in front 22-12.
Advertisement
To start the second, Betts got the scoring going with her patented turnaround jumper. She scored the following two field goals for the Bruins, and just like that, UCLA had twice as many points as Washington. Washington was struggling with their 3-point shot, going 1-for-8 from deep, and UCLA continued to pile on.
The Bruin bigs kept applying pressure on the rim and scoring with ease. After another Dugalić bucket, Washington called a timeout as the deficit had ballooned to 17.
Turnovers were the Achilles heel for Washington during the first half. They had seven, leading to another seven points for UCLA. Washington’s poor shooting, inability to win the rebounding battle and extra turnovers led to UCLA leading 42-29 at the break.
The second half began just like the first, with Betts dominating.
Advertisement
She scored six of the first eight points for UCLA. The third quarter was a much closer affair between the two teams. Washington scored 19 points their most in any period in this contest. However, UCLA scored 21 points themselves and entered the final frame ahead 63-48.
The Bruins went on a 7-0 run to start the fourth and that extinguished any hopes the Huskies had at a miraculous comeback. UCLA head coach Cori Close kept her starters in until there was 1:58 left in the game when she emptied her bench.
Texas A&M sends Tennessee spiraling with upset win
This deep into the season, teams are further established and hierarchies are set, making upsets all the more impactful and exciting.
Advertisement
On Thursday, one Top 25 team was upset, and two narrowly avoided that fate.
Texas A&M defeated No. 21 Tennessee 82-74, winning their first matchup against a Top 25 team since 2021.
The unranked Aggies won thanks to a third quarter where they outscored the Volunteers 22-9. Ny’Ceara Pryor was unstoppable in this game. She had 22 points and 10 assists. Fatmata Janneh also had a big game for Texas A&M. Janneh had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Janiah Barker did her best to try to lift the Volunteers to victory. She had 29 points and 10 rebounds. Zee Spearman scored 14 points off the bench.
This has been a tough stretch for Tennessee; they’ve lost three-straight games and could fall out of the top 25 after this defeat.
Advertisement
LSU clamped down on Ole Miss for the clutch win
No. 7 LSU escaped disaster, beating No. 17 Ole Miss 78-70.
The Tigers were in serious trouble entering the fourth quarter, trailing by nine. With 6:39 left to play the Rebels were up by 10 and were still in control of the contest.
That’s when LSU stepped up defensively and completely shut them down.
Ole Miss scored just one point—a lone free throw—the rest of the way as LSU went on a 19-1 run to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat. Not allowing a single made basket in the fourth quarter was an astonishing feat for LSU and Ole Miss will think about what they could’ve done differently in this game for a while.
LSU struggled to score in this one, but MiLaysia Fulwiley came up big with 26 points. Flau’Jae Johnson had 18 points and five assists. For Ole Miss, Cotie McMahon had 25 points and Christeen Iwuala flirted with a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Advertisement
UNC needed OT to escape against Virginia Tech
Like LSU, No. 22 North Carolina avoided disaster by winning late.
Their victory though, was even more dramatic. They won 66-63 over Virginia Tech, but it took them overtime to do it.
North Carolina trailed for most of the game, but shrunk the deficit down in the third.
A triple by Lanie Grant gave the Tar Heels a two-point edge, 57-55, with almost two and a half minutes remaining. Neither team would score again until Virginia Tech’s Samyha Suffren’s layup with 26 seconds left evened the game at 57, forcing overtime.
In the extended period it was all Tar Heels. Elina Aarnisalo hit a 3, Nyla Harris hit a jumper and knocked down a pair of free throws and UNC squeaked out the result.
Advertisement
UNC had a balanced attack with four players in doubel figues. Harris led the team with 15 points. Carys Baker and Suffren scored 15 each for Virginia Tech.
Tight wins this late into the year can be concerning for the top collegiate team’s but March Madness is coming and it’s all about surviving and advancing. UNC, LSU and UCLA got things done on Thursday and Tennessee did not.
