No. 5 UCLA takes control, stuns No. 1 South Carolina, 77-62

After the final buzzer sounded and the reality of No. 5 UCLA’s 77-62 upset of No. 1 South Carolina set in, Bruin players celebrated.

They jumped up and down with students, hugged player alumni, and held on to each other. The historic win, the first against a No. 1 team in program history, ended the defending champion’s 43-game winning streak, broke a 0-20 drought against them, and handed the Gamecocks their largest loss since March, 2019.

However, UCLA coach Cori Close emphasized that she and her team were taking the wire-to-wire win in stride.

“We went in expecting to win,” she said. “It starts way before the game begins, and there was never a doubt. We prepared as if we would win. I’m proud of our commitment to preparation.”

The Bruins dominated the game from the start, excelling on both offense and defense. They took control early, leading 15-2 as the visitors struggled to make shots and committed turnovers.

Point guard Kiki Rice, known as the team’s emotional leader, made a strong statement with a steal and coast-to-coast layup, extending UCLA’s lead. The Bruins led 43-22 at halftime and built a lead of 23 points in the fourth quarter before making player substitutions in the final minutes of the game.

Londynn Jones led the Bruins with 15 points, all from three-pointers. Freshman Elina Aarinsalo contributed 13 points, while center Lauren Betts recorded 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Rice, playing in her second game back from injury, finished with 11 points, as did Gabriela Jaquez.

On the Gamecocks side, Te-Hina Paopao and Tessa Johnson were the only players in double figures, with 18 and 14 points, respectively.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley admitted that her team failed to adjust to their opponent’s dominance and struggled with shot selection.

“This is usually our style of play, and it doesn’t feel good to be on the receiving end of it,” Staley said. “We know we were beaten by a great team today.”

Close revealed that the strategy was to force South Carolina into half-court offense to limit their transition scoring.

“We made them take difficult shots,” she explained.

Close credited UCLA’s work ethic and selflessness for their success this season.

“Everyone is stepping up and contributing,” Close said. “We have a versatile team with a lot of weapons, but our selflessness and work ethic stand out. This team works harder than any team I’ve coached.”

Betts highlighted the team’s “all-in” mentality, emphasizing their unity and shared goal of winning.

With a 5-0 record, the Bruins have shown their depth and talent, maintaining the 5th spot in the rankings. Betts stressed in a post-game interview that doubters of UCLA should take notice.

Looking ahead, Close welcomed the underrated status of her team.

“Let them underestimate us,” she said. “If you rely on external definitions, you miss opportunities to improve. Focus on defining your next steps rather than being defined by others.”

“Let this win guide your future choices.”

The Bruins will head to Hawaii for their next game against UT Martin, while the Gamecocks will travel to Florida to face No. 15 Iowa State.