Indianapolis, IN- UCLA had no mercy on Ohio State in a dominant 75-46 win, punching their ticket to the championship final where they’ll face off against USC for the third time this season. The Bruins, led by the explosive Londynn Jones, came out firing and never looked back. Jones dropped 22 points, hitting six three-pointers and setting the tone early as UCLA (29-2) built an insurmountable lead from the jump.
This one was never in doubt. After taking a quick 16-5 lead less than five minutes into the game, the Bruins showed no signs of slowing down. They closed the first half with a 9-0 run, holding Ohio State scoreless for the final 3:09 of the half to go up 44-21.
Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez each added 12 points in a balanced effort, with Betts pulling down six rebounds and Jaquez grabbing five. It was a complete team effort as UCLA cruised to their second straight double-digit win, looking every bit the part of a team on a mission.
Ohio State, despite their solid season, never seemed to have the edge. The Bruins were the more motivated squad, and with USC waiting in the wings for a high-stakes championship showdown, you could feel the intensity building. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for both teams, both first-year conference members, and with this third matchup looming, it’s setting up to be an epic clash for all the marbles.
For UCLA, it’s championship or bust. For Ohio State, it’s back to the drawing board after a tough loss to a team that came to play from start to finish. The stage is set for tomorrow’s battle, and it’s sure to be one for the ages.
