Lauren Betts had 17 points, five rebounds, and four blocked shots as UCLA avenged two earlier losses to defeat USC 72-67 to win the Big Ten Conference women’s basketball

UCLA's only two losses have come against Southern California. The Trojans won those games by double figures -- 71-60 at home on Feb. 13 and 80-67 at UCLA on March 1 -- to put the onus on the Bruins to prove to themselves that they are the Big Ten's best squad and a worthy contender for the NCAA championship.

Coach Cori Close challenged UCLA to arrive at the Big Ten Tournament as a tougher, more aggressive group than the one that lost to its dreaded rival, USC, last weekend.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — UCLA center Lauren Betts and her teammates used a five-day break to dissect their flaws, make a few fixes and recommit themselves to beating No. 2 Southern California — if they earned that chance at the Big Ten Tournament. Now it's all set.

“That gets me very excited about where we’ve brought the entire game,” UCLA coach Cori Close said Friday after practice ... and 2-0 on the road against them this season. Southern California guard JuJu Watkins, left, blocks the shot of UCLA ...

When No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 Southern California meet Saturday in Los Angeles ... for UCLA's offense to free up Betts' prolific interior scoring, Bruins coach Cori Close said following a 67-65 win at Iowa on Sunday. "The bottom line is, it doesn't matter ...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — 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 they rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat No. 2 Southern California 72-67 in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.