UCLA delivered a shocking upset in women’s basketball on Sunday, defeating #1 South Carolina in a 15-point blowout (77-62) thus ending a 43-game win streak for the Gamecocks. The triumph marks UCLA’s first-ever win over a top-ranked team and further solidifies its status as a national title contender.
The Bruins dominated from the get-go, jumping to a 15-2 lead and extending the advantage to 21 points by halftime. The performance was fueled by contributions from Elina Aarnisalo (13 points, 4 assists), Lauren Betts (11 points, 14 rebounds), and Londynn Jones who led the team with 15 points off the bench.
The Gamecocks struggled offensively with 36% shooting and 3 starters held scoreless in the first half. It marks USC’s first loss since the ’22-23 Final Four, ending a remarkable streak of 43 consecutive wins. The ‘Cocks face a challenging road ahead with 3 additional Top 20 opponents (#8 Iowa State, #14 Duke, #19 TCU) before the start of conference play in early January.