USC women’s basketball looks for repeat in UCLA rematch

LOS ANGELES The first game was more of an event than a game.

The stands were packed, from newcomers to womens basketball to those who have followed for years as well as family members.Even a handful of celebrities were on hand to watch the then-No.

6 USC womens basketball team knock off UCLA, then ranked No.

1 in the country, by 11 points.

The noise inside USCs Galen Center that night was deafening, but not loud enough to drown out the sound of the stakes in this crosstown rivalry being raised to the rafters.The second matchup will be more game than event.The final regular-season showdown at UCLAs Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night is expected to again bring out the fans and celebrities, having been sold out since Feb.

12.

But there is so much more on the line this time than just another victory for either team, making this the biggest college basketball game in Los Angeles this season.For starters, the second-ranked Bruins (28-1 overall, 16-1 Big Ten) want revenge.

The No.

4 Trojans (26-2, 16-1) handed them their lone loss of the season, a 71-60 defeat that knocked them from the top spot in the rankings, and they want to finish the regular season on top.The Big Ten Conference regular-season title will be decided by the outcome, with UCLA and USC holding down the top two spots and the winner getting the top seed for next weeks conference tournament in Indianapolis.Then, not to be overlooked, are the city bragging rights in this longstanding rivalry.We have a plan and sticking to that is our primary thing to do here, USC senior center Rayah Marshall said after Thursdays practice.Obviously, UCLA is good.

They havent lost a game at home and its for all the marbles here.

So, we are looking to come into Pauley Pavilion and cause an upset.In the first meeting, Trojans star JuJu Watkins carried her team with 38 points and eight blocked shots, each swat sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy and sparking a joy in her game that had diminished.Looking back to the Feb.

13 game, the sophomore sensation said she needed to shrug off the heavy expectations she carries into each game to be able to lead her team.I think (now) just dont take it that seriously, honestly.

I mean, at the end of the day its a game, Watkins said.

To me, its much more than that, but just realizing that its a game at the end of the day, just go out there, have fun.USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said nothing Watkins does comes as a surprise anymore, especially the way she handles the fame that has come with her burgeoning success.

Watkins is averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in her second college season and has been featured in TV commercials and on billboards.Not only does she handle it with a lot of humility and grace, but then she also finds ways to raise her own bar on her own ceiling, Gottlieb said.

Shes so committed to getting better.

I dont know that Ive had a player ever just look inward (asking) what can I do to help make myself better and the team better.But shes pretty remarkable in how she handles the craziness around her.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | USCs 2nd-half rally comes up short against Ohio StateCollege Sports | USC men fall to Rutgers for 3rd straight lossCollege Sports | No.

4 USC women celebrate senior day with win over No.

25 IllinoisCollege Sports | USC cant pull off 2nd-half comeback in loss to No.

20 MarylandCollege Sports | Alexander: USCs JuJu Watkins is hard to keep downThe craziness will start again Saturday as the Trojans attempt to contain 6-foot-7 UCLA center Lauren Betts, who posted her 13th double-double of the season against USC, and junior guard Kiki Rice, who added 15 points and six assists in the loss.Its an incredible spot to be in, to be in a championship game on the last day of the regular season and to be able to control our own destiny, Gottlieb said.

We dont have to wait and hope somebody else loses.

Its at our fingertips.

And yet its a very hard task because UCLA is really good too.

But its an incredible thing that I definitely dont take for granted.No.

4 USC at No.

2 UCLAWhen: Saturday, 6 p.m.Where: Pauley PavilionTV: FOX (Ch.

11).

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