This post was updated March 2 at 10:50 p.m.

The Bruins have lost to just one team this season.

Twice.

No. 4 USC (26-2, 17-1 Big Ten) deflated No. 2 UCLA women’s basketball (27-2, 16-2) for the second time this season to clinch a sweep of the series, as well as the Big Ten regular season championship. Saturday night’s 80-67 loss marked the end of the Bruins’ regular season and their first loss at home in over a year.

“Just really pissed off we didn’t show up and do our jobs,” said coach Cori Close. “Credit to USC – they were tougher. They were tougher and did their jobs. We weren’t tough, and we didn’t do our jobs. We’re going to have to do some real hard looks in the mirror.”

A nutmeg by Trojan forward Kiki Iriafen to center/forward Rayah Marshall topped off USC’s fortifying 9-0 run to start the match. And the Trojans’ lead wouldn’t falter through the following 33 minutes of play. 

Meanwhile, UCLA greeted a sold-out Pauley Pavilion crowd with a 4:02 dry spell to open the crosstown showdown. 

Junior forward Janiah Barker was the first to take the lid off the basket for the Bruins with a jump shot from the left wing. She then teamed up with junior forward Timea Gardiner to spearhead the Bruins’ opening attack – combining for 10 points.

The Bruin defense double-teamed JuJu Watkins – the Trojan standout guard – to start. But the defensive intensity wasn’t enough for Watkins’ wizardry – or the rest of the Trojans’ talent.

UCLA’s effort to stifle the National Player of the Year candidate translated into 23 first-quarter points for the visitors, backed by Watkins’ 13 points and 10 from her counterparts. 

“I’ll be the first to say, I need to go back and watch it (the game) too,” said junior guard Gabriela Jaquez. “I need to learn from what I did wrong and how I can do better. Because it’s March now, and these games are going to be tough.”

By the end of the first half, the Bruins found a defensive groove, bringing Watkins’ 3-for-3 clip from the field to 5-for-8. 

But UCLA’s efforts weren’t enough to limit the cornerstone of USC’s attack – Watkins mustered half of USC’s 46 points through 20 minutes of play. 

“I would be remiss to say playing UCLA doesn’t motivate me extra,” Watkins said. “I’ve never won a regular season so just another thing to tick off the list.” 

The stalwart and her Trojans outdid the Bruins in almost every category after the first half, shooting 47.4% from the field compared to UCLA’s 36.7%. To add insult to injury, UCLA suffered 11 first-half turnovers – nearing its game average of 15.1 – while USC suffered just six and earned 17 points off UCLA’s blunders.

UCLA went on to give up 25 points from its 16 turnovers.

“The biggest thing we had to do is quick turn the ball over,” Close said. “Because they were stored in transition off of our turnovers.”

Lauren Betts, who was limited to 11 points, converted a layup to put the Bruins within five points of the Trojans in the third quarter. 6-foot-4 Marshall and 6-foot-6 center Clarice Akunwafo restricted the Bruins’ 6-foot-7 center to nine points below her season average.

A pair of split free throws by Rice brought the Bruins to within four points. The miss was her only one of the night, shooting 10-for-11 from the free throw line to supplement her 16 points. 

“These two right here fought their butts off,” Close said, pointing to Rice and Jaquez – who finished with seven points and six rebounds. “They were trying everything to bring everything with them. We need more people who can be counted on to do their jobs like these two did.”

The Bruins’ effort to knot things up didn’t last long enough, though, as the Trojans entered the final 10 minutes with a 13-point advantage. 

And that lead extended to the largest of the night as USC led 76-56 early in the fourth frame.  

Trojan guard Talia von Oelhoffen fouled out with five minutes remaining in the game. She joined Marshall and guard Kennedy Smith – who had four personal fouls each. Conversely, no UCLA player had more than three fouls.

Despite holding USC scoreless from the field for the final 3:28, the Bruins’ 20-point deficit was too deep to overcome.

“I’m really angry,” Close said. “We let each other down today.”