No. 6 The women of the USC find a correct defensive recipe against No. 1 UCLA – Orange County Registry

Los Angeles-Juju Watkins approached his teammate Clarice Akunwafo after UCLA caused a 10-0 race to close the first half. Akunwafo was watching the center of 6 feet and 7 inches Lauren Betts, who had scored nine points in the second quarter.

“Ju came to me and said: ‘She will score. She is a great player. But I have my back, ”Akunwafo recalled. “And she supported me.”

Both USC and UCLA female basketball teams had the task of protecting players who are often indescribable. For the Trojans, that meant neutralizing Betts. For the Bruins, Watkins was indicated.

USC broke the code in Betts by choosing the right moments for individual battles and knowing when to send a double team, which helped the sixth classified Trojans (22-2 in general, 12-1 Big Ten) ensure a 71-60 victoryDelivering to the Bruins best classified (23-1, 11-1) their first defeat of the season.

Akunwafo and Kiki Iriafen faced Betts in the position, but what was happening of that action was equally important.

“I do everything possible to protect it and play a great later defense,” Akunwafo told journalists, “but honestly, the most important thing is the pressure of the ball and the guards do a great job when getting involved.” So, even if, let’s say that a second Betts is open, they can’t pass it because the ball presses. “

The Trojans also deployed Watkins, who had the best blocked shots of their career, when that was not enough. Betts still managed to score 18 points, which is slightly below his average season of 19.6 per game.

“I have to be better, point,” Betts said. “I think towards the end, I was just forcing many difficult shots. I have to be better for my team, so I think just get deeper stamps. And I know how to do that. “

The students had waited outside the Galen Center from 1:30 in the afternoon to ensure places to see the offensive show that Watkins put on. He slid around the defenders, sliding in the corners overlooked for the opportunities for capture and shot to finish the game with 38 points.

UCLA used his most sandy defenders against Watkins, starting with Gabriela Joquez, who did not pronounce the name of USC or any of his players when he addressed journalists earlier for the week.

Janiah Barker tested his hand later, in the middle of the first quarter. The 6-4 striker affirmed his domain by throwing a dump during heating, but could not follow that with a defensive performance strong enough to contain Watkins.

Londynn Jones entered and helped her keep her just five points in the third quarter, despite being almost a shorter foot.

“We had Londynn Jones just uploaded under it,” said UCLA Cori Close coach, whose team turned it more than 20 times. “When we did not obtain rebounds and did not get quality shots, then they began to leave in transition and then it was difficult for us to establish our defense.”

Watkins remained hot on both sides of the court and his teammates did the same in defense. Kennedy Smith faced face to face with Kiki Rice and only allowed him to score two points in the third painting.