‘Intentional’ Swing of an Elbow to the Face Leads to Commotion in USC vs UCLA

The Battle for Los Angeles between USC and UCLA has always been a highly anticipated matchup in college basketball. In Round 2 of their showdown, No. 9 USC emerged victorious, defeating No. 2 UCLA with a final score of 73-65. This win was especially significant for the Trojans, as it avenged their only loss of the season, which came at the hands of their crosstown rivals. The victory not only evened the score in the battle but also put an end to USC’s nine-game losing streak against the Bruins.

Besides UCLA losing their winning streak, their key player was unfortunately sidelined during a crucial moment of the game, which caused quite a commotion due to the intended foul.

The intended foul led to unexpected commotion

The City of Los Angeles can take great pride in having two of the top programs in women’s collegiate basketball, with only No. 1 South Carolina remaining unbeaten. The competitive nature of the USC-UCLA rivalry adds an extra level of excitement to the basketball scene in the city, making it a thrilling spectacle for fans and athletes alike.

Since USC forward/center Rayah Marshall had to be scratched midway through the contest because of sickness, neither squad played at their optimum level. Battling an undisclosed sickness, UCLA’s standout center Lauren Betts served a restricted amount of minutes and did not start the match. But in the crucial moment of the third quarter, Lauren Betts, who was already playing in restricted time, was elbowed by a USC player, which led her to curl up in pain on the floor.

The Bruins battled to control the ball on Sunday, giving up 22 turnovers, which is equal to the number of field-goal attempts they scored. Prior to this game, UCLA had averaged fewer than 15 turnovers per match. UCLA made errors that resulted in the Trojans scoring 23 points.

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How did UCLA lose to USC?

With 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and three steals, freshman sensation JuJu Watkins powered USC. It was her sixth game with 30 points or more and her ninth game with over 20 points.

After the game, Watkins looked to have a cramp and fell to the ground, giving some people panic, but Gottlieb assured them that she was alright.

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Watkins shot 8 for 22 from the field, not having the finest shooting night, but she made a crucial 16 for 16 from the free throw line. With 18 and 13 points, respectively, McKenzie Forbes and Kayla Padilla also scored in double figures for USC.