LOS ANGELES — In a stunning upset, Londynn Jones delivered an outstanding performance by scoring 15 points and successfully hitting all five of her three-point attempts, leading fifth-ranked UCLA to a 77-62 victory against the top-ranked South Carolina on Sunday. This game not only ended South Carolina’s remarkable 43-game winning streak but also halted their impressive 33-game winning run on the road.
The Gamecocks (5-1) faced their first defeat since April 2023, when Iowa, led by Caitlin Clark, triumphed over them in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Te-Hina Paopao contributed 18 points and Tessa Johnson added 14 for the Gamecocks, who had boasted the third-longest road winning streak in Division I history.
This match marked a historic moment for UCLA, as it was the first time the Bruins defeated a No. 1 ranked team, ending a streak of 20 losses in such matchups. Previously, their best victories came against teams ranked No. 2, including Oregon in 2019 and Stanford in 2008. Elina Aarnisalo also played a significant role in UCLA’s success, contributing 13 points as part of an overall strong scoring effort that saw five Bruins score in double figures.
UCLA (5-0) took control of the game from the start, showcasing a relentless defense that kept the Gamecocks from establishing any rhythm on offense.
In terms of key takeaways from the matchup, South Carolina struggled to keep pace, trailing by double digits at halftime for the first time since suffering a similar fate against Stanford on December 21, 2021. Chloe Kitts, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer with an average of 14 points per game, had a rough outing, finishing with just 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting.
On the other hand, UCLA set the pace with a 43-22 lead at halftime. The Bruins had contributions from eight players, with significant scoring runs of 11-0 and 7-0 occurring in the first and second quarters, respectively, as they shot an impressive 52% from the field.
A critical moment in the game was the first quarter, where UCLA quickly established dominance, leaving South Carolina unable to mount a comeback. The Gamecocks missed their first nine attempts and ended the quarter shooting 4 of 18. Meanwhile, UCLA capitalized by running off 11 consecutive points to secure a 20-10 advantage going into the second quarter.
Statistically, the Bruins were strong on rebounds as well, edging South Carolina 41-34, and notably keeping the Gamecocks below their usual scoring average of 80.2 points.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will head to Florida for a matchup against Iowa State in the Fort Myers Tipoff on Thanksgiving, while UCLA is set to travel to Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, where they will face UT Martin on Friday.