With a home sweep of the Oregon schools, UCLA has now run their home streak to 22 games. After those difficult wins, they face back-to-back games against cross-town rivals Southern Cal.

The Bruins held the lead for most of the first quarter regardless of their sloppy play. Once again, they were having a terrible shooting day. They were only 26% in shooting. In defense they were poor, letting Oregon’s shooting percentage get as high as 60%. Near the end of the quarter, they missed 11 shots consecutively. That was until Kennedy Burke got one into the net. They retook the lead in the second quarter and even their shots improved to 58.8%. Though they did struggle for three-pointers only making 1-for-13 by half time.

The second half looked better. They did not look a 100%, but better than the first half. They retained the lead for the rest of the game and answered every time the Ducks tried to keep it a single digit game. Monique Billings scored a career-high 30 points with 14 rebounds and six steals. She also had her 10^th double-double of the season. Despite having some rough games, Billings finds ways to continue to set records. With a 79-63 win, the Bruins now have won 22 consecutive games at home with 14 straight wins against Pac-12 teams.

This week, UCLA faces Southern Cal twice. They play them tonight at the Galen Center and then Sunday night at Pauley Pavilion. Though the Bruins have won three of the last four games, Southern Cal holds the overall series at 48-38. Conference play has not been the nicest to Southern Cal. They have only won one game so far with that win coming against Colorado. The Buffaloes also has only had one win all conference. The Bruins can take the opportunity to take on a beat-up Southern Cal team and tone-up in the areas that need to be sharpened up, specifically, the shooting. The past couple of games their shooting has been horrid. It’s been as low as 22.2%. This is something that should not be happening. They should be making a lot more of their shots.

Rivalry week is a big one. Winning doesn’t only feel great because you get a win, but also because you get to hold the bragging rights for another season. A sweep of these next two games would certainly be sweet.

#11/13 UCLA Women’s Basketball (13-4, 4-2)

Opponent: Southern Cal Trojans (10-7, 1-5)

When: 8 PM PT, Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Where: Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA

TV: Pac-12 Network National and Los Angeles with Kate Scott, Mary Murphy, and Layshia Clarendon

Livestream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now App

Audio: uclabruins.com

Official Game Preview


Beat $C!!!

Go Bruins!!!