The South Carolina Gamecocks finally saw their almost two-year winning streak come to an end on Sunday, November 24, when they faced off against UCLA. South Carolina hadn’t lost a game since being defeated by Iowa in the 2023 Final Four.
Following the game, South Carolina’s players hung their heads in defeat. It was the worst defeat any AP Number one team has faced since 2020, the most significant margin of defeat the Gamecocks have seen since 2019, and their first road loss in three years.
Despite having one of the strongest women’s college basketball teams in recent years, South Carolina has shown signs of struggle this season. In its opener, South Carolina struggled to pull off a tight victory over Michigan State, a team unranked by the AP.
South Carolina fell, not because the Gamecocks underperformed, but because UCLA brought a powerhouse defense onto the court. In the second quarter, UCLA more than doubled their lead, going from a nine-point margin to 21 within minutes.
The Bruins showed no mercy and sealed their victory the moment Londynn Jones got off the bench. Jones scored an impressive fifteen points, sinking every three-point shot she took. UCLA has impressive bench talent, with 34 points coming from non-starting players.
“There just was never a doubt, and we prepared like we expected to win,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. Close also noted that the team’s secret weapon is the insane bench talent. With a squad so skilled, she remarked that they have eight starters.
UCLA proved they’re a defensive team, annihilating South Carolina on rebounds. South Carolina’s struggle showed in turnovers, with the team giving up the ball 13 times. The victory was UCLA’s first in program history over a number-one-ranked squad, though that didn’t matter much to Close. “I don’t mean to be boring, but I don’t care who’s ranked what at what point,” she said. “I just want us to learn the lessons that this game taught us, and I want us to fall more in love with the process of what it takes to become great.”
If Sunday’s game is any indication, UCLA could be getting ready for a big dance come the NCAA tournament in March.
