Lauren Betts, defense lead UCLA past USC in Big Ten tournament final
INDIANAPOLIS — Lauren Betts scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half Sunday and No. 4 UCLA allowed only four baskets over the final 12 minutes as the Bruins rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat No. 2 USC 72-67 in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
It marked the first time the Bruins (30-2) beat their longtime crosstown rival in three games this season. USC (28-3) won the previous meeting — and the outright regular-season title — nine days earlier at UCLA, and the Bruins made no secret they wanted a rematch.
UCLA still needed an incredible defensive performance to turn the game. The Trojans missed 14 consecutive shots, starting late in the third quarter, and made only four baskets in the fourth as their 48-35 lead withered away.
JuJu Watkins finished with 29 points and six rebounds to lead USC, which had a nine-game winning streak snapped.
Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones each had 13 points for UCLA. Rice also had eight assists, while Betts notched 5 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 steals to win the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player Award.
The Bruins got the matchup they wanted — and the finish they dreamed of.
Coach Cori Close challenged her team to be tougher and more aggressive, and it was the difference in the game.
The Trojans appeared to be in good shape when they opened the second half with a 3-pointer to take their largest lead of the game, but they failed to put it away.
USC finished by going 4-of-19 from the field in the fourth quarter, with the first basket coming with 1:12 left.
Janiah Barker’s two free throws with 4:10 to go finally gave the Bruins a 62-56 lead — and the confidence to close it out.
Both teams will take a week off before learning who they will host in Los Angeles for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
South Carolina captures its third straight SEC title in a dominating 64-45 win over Texas. (1:46)
GREENVILLE, S.C. — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said her team deserves to be the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament following a dominant run through the Southeastern Conference tournament, culminating in an impressive 64-45 rout of No. 1 Texas in Sunday’s championship game.
The Gamecocks (30-3) entered the SEC tournament ranked fifth in the country and projected to be a No. 2 seed.
But after throttling three league foes by 18, 21 and 19 points, a No. 1 seed now seems to be a lock.
However, Staley thinks her team has earned more.
“When you win this tournament and play the schedule that we play, I do think we’re the No. 1 overall seed,” Staley said. “We manufactured our schedule to put ourselves in this situation. So I hope the committee doesn’t discount our entire resume. There isn’t anybody in the country that has played the schedule that we have played, that had share of the regular-season title, won this tournament and beat the No. 1 team in the country. … There is no one.”
She argued that the Gamecocks’ 2024-25 resume — which includes 12 wins against top-25 teams, including two against Texas — should count for something. South Carolina boasts a 7-3 record against top-10 teams, with the three losses coming against No. 1 Texas, No. 3 UConn and No. 4 UCLA.
The Gamecocks’ 30-game regular-season schedule included 13 games against teams in the AP top 25 at the time of the game — two more than any other ranked team.
Staley said she was “shocked” to learn her team was projected as a No. 2 seed coming into the tournament.
“If you get so much credit for beating us, and yet when we have had some of the toughest stretches in the country and came out of it unscathed, you can’t discount that,” Staley said. “You can’t discredit that. I’m going to speak up about it because you have to hear the voice of the other side. Because if you don’t think our body of works deserves it, then you need to speak out on it.”
She added: “I’m going to go down fighting for what our team earned.”
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The 2025 Big Ten tournament gets underway Wednesday, March 12, with 15 teams in the bracket. Games will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Get the bracket, schedule and game time information below. Seeding will be set at the end of the regular season (Sunday, March 9).
Click or tap here for another look at the bracket.
All times ET
Wednesday, March 12 — First Round
Thursday, March 13 — Second Round
Friday, March 14 — Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 15 — Semifinals
Sunday, March 16 — Championship
Illinois is the defending champion, as the No. 2 Illini topped No. 5 Wisconsin in the title game last season.
Michigan State has won the most titles, with six. The Spartans last won the Big Ten tournament in 2019.
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NCAA.COM | MARCH 9, 2025
| YEAR | WINNER | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | CITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Michigan (vacated) | 76-67 | Purdue | Chicago |
| 1999 | Michigan State | 67-50 | Illinois | Chicago |
| 2000 | Michigan State | 76-61 | Illinois | Chicago |
| 2001 | Iowa | 63-61 | Indiana | Chicago |
| 2002 | Ohio State (vacated) | 81-64 | Iowa | Indianapolis |
| 2003 | Illinois | 72-59 | Ohio State | Chicago |
| 2004 | Wisconsin | 70-53 | Illinois | Indianapolis |
| 2005 | Illinois | 54-43 | Wisconsin | Chicago |
| 2006 | Iowa | 67-60 | Ohio State | Indianapolis |
| 2007 | Ohio State | 66-49 | Wisconsin | Chicago |
| 2008 | Wisconsin | 61-48 | Illinois | Indianapolis |
| 2009 | Purdue | 65-61 | Ohio State | Indianapolis |
| 2010 | Ohio State | 90-61 | Minnesota | Indianapolis |
| 2011 | Ohio State | 71-60 | Penn State | Indianapolis |
| 2012 | Michigan State | 68-64 | Ohio State | Indianapolis |
| 2013 | Ohio State | 50-43 | Wisconsin | Chicago |
| 2014 | Michigan State | 69-55 | Michigan | Indianapolis |
| 2015 | Wisconsin | 80-69 (OT) | Michigan State | Chicago |
| 2016 | Michigan State | 66-62 | Purdue | Indianapolis |
| 2017 | Michigan | 71-56 | Wisconsin | Washington, D.C. |
| 2018 | Michigan | 75-66 | Purdue | New York City |
| 2019 | Michigan State | 65-60 | Michigan | Chicago |
| 2021 | Illinois | 91-88 (OT) | Ohio State | Indianapolis |
| 2022 | Iowa | 75-66 | Purdue | Indianapolis |
| 2023 | Purdue | 67-65 | Penn State | Minneapolis |
| 2024 | Illinois | 93-87 | Wisconsin | Minneapolis |
