No. 4 USC beats rival No. 2 UCLA to secure Big 10 championship

LOS ANGELES >> JuJu Watkins scored 30 points and No. 4 Southern California defeated second-ranked UCLA 80-67 on Saturday night to clinch the program’s first Big Ten regular-season title in its league debut.

The crosstown rivals came into the sold-out game at Pauley Pavilion tied for first. The Trojans (26-2, 17-1 Big Ten) completed a season sweep of the Bruins (27-2, 16-2), whose only losses came against USC, including a 71-60 defeat at Galen Center two weeks ago.

This time, Watkins scored 23 points in the first half. She ran off six straight to send USC into halftime ahead 46-32. Watkins assisted on back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth that extended USC’s lead to 19.

No. 18 West virginia 85, Cincinnati 69>> JJ Quinerly scored 24 of her 31 points in the first half and No. 18 West Virginia closed the regular season with an 85-69 win over Cincinnati on the road Saturday.

The Mountaineers have a first-round bye in the Big 12 Conference tournament that starts Wednesday in Kansas City. The Bearcats will play the first day but the opponent won’t be determined until the season ends on Sunday.

Jordan Harrison added 21 points and Jordan Thomas had 16 for West Virginia (23-6, 13-5).

No. 23 Michigan State 73, Minnesota 58>> Grace VanSlooten scored 15 points and led a fourth-quarter charge that lifted No. 23 Michigan State to a 73-58 win over Minnesota on Saturday as both teams ended the regular season.

The Spartans secured a first-round bye in the Big Ten Conference tournament that begins Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Wyoming 68, Colorado State 55>> Malene Pedersen scored 16 points, Allyson Fertig added 14 points and 17 rebounds, and Wyoming beat Colorado State 68-55 in Saturday’s installment of the Border War in Fort Collins.

The Cowgirls started the second half on an 8-0 run and the Rams just couldn’t quite keep up, despite 17 points from Emma Ronsiek and 13 from Hannah Ronsiek.

The Rams will play at San Jose State on Tuesday, while Wyoming hosts UNLV on Wednesday to close out the regular season.

— The Associated Press