Round 3 for rivals - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

BIG TEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALLL TOURNAMENT

Round 3 for rivals

Jones scores 22 as UCLA dominates against Ohio State in the semifinals with grand finale against USC next

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UCLA’s Londynn Jones, right, drives past Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge during Saturday’s win in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. Michael Conroy /ap

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The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — UCLA coach Cori Close’s team came to the Big Ten tournament with a mission — getting another shot at rival USC.

Mission accomplished.

Londynn Jones made six 3-pointers and scored a season-high 22 points Saturday, leading No. 4-seeded UCLA to a 75-46 rout over No. 13 Ohio State in the Big Ten semifinals.

The victory sets up a third showdown between the Big Ten regular-season champion, No. 2 USC, and the runner-up Bruins today. The Trojans swept the first two meetings, and Round 3 of the cross-town rivalry is what many hoped — and expected —to see.

Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez each scored 12 points in limited action. Betts had six rebounds, Jaquez had five as UCLA (29-2) won its second straight by double digits.

This game was never really close after the Bruins took a 16-5 lead less than five minutes into the game. UCLA then closed the first half on a 9-0 spurt, keeping Ohio State scoreless over the final 3:09, to take a 44-21 lead.

The Buckeyes played well most of this season but struggled in every facet of this game — shooting, defense and rebounding — against the more motivated Bruins.

Jaloni Cambridge scored 10 points to lead the Buckeyes (25-6).

The Bruins reached the semifinal matchup with a 85-74 victory over Nebraska late Friday night.

Betts had 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks against the Cornhuskers, Gabriela Jaquez added a season-high 23 points and nine rebounds, and Kiki Rice had 14 points and nine assists.

The Bruins struggled to pull away until breaking a 47-47 tie early in the third quarter with a 13-2 run. They finally sealed it with seven straight points to make it 71-60 with 5:36 to play.

Nebraska (21-11) played its third game in three days after earning the No. 10 seed. Britt Prince led the Cornhuskers with 24 points and Alex Markowski scored 11.

The Cornhuskers certainly didn’t show much weariness, repeatedly charging back every time it appeared UCLA was about to take control. It should help them into the NCAA Tournament.

When Nebraska cut the deficit to 62-58 early in the fourth, Betts and Jaquez and Rice combined for all of the points in a 9-2 spurt.