INDIANAPOLIS — Londynn Jones had a standout performance by hitting six 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 22 points on Saturday, propelling No. 4 UCLA to a dominant 75-46 victory against No. 13 Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
This decisive win clears the path for a much-anticipated third encounter against the conference’s regular-season leader, No. 2 Southern California, with the Bruins being the runners-up. The looming match on Sunday marks a continuation of their cross-town rivalry, with USC having triumphed in the first two meetings, setting the stage for an exciting finale that fans eagerly anticipate.
Helped by the contributions of Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez, who each added 12 points in just a brief timeframe on the court, UCLA (29-2) secured their second consecutive double-digit victory. Betts managed six rebounds while Jaquez added five. For the Buckeyes, Jaloni Cambridge led the team with 10 points in a challenging game for Ohio State (25-6).
From the get-go, the game leaned heavily in favor of the Bruins, who established an early 16-5 advantage less than five minutes into the contest. By the first half’s conclusion, UCLA surged with a 9-0 run, which left Ohio State scoreless during the final 3:09, and they walked into halftime with a commanding 44-21 lead.
Ohio State has had a generally successful season, but this time they faced difficulties across the board—struggling with shooting, defense, and rebounding—against a highly driven UCLA team. Meanwhile, UCLA arrived in Indianapolis with clear intent: to earn another face-off against the Trojans. So far, their efforts have paid off, but the true test awaits on Sunday.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Betts made her scoring debut with consecutive baskets early in the second quarter, which sparked the first-half ending run that proved insurmountable for the Buckeyes. Statistically, the Buckeyes were outmatched as demonstrated by their 21-9 deficit in rebounds during the first half, and being outscored 22-4 in second-chance points across the initial two quarters.
Looking forward, Ohio State now has some time to regroup and address their shortcomings before entering NCAA Tournament play next week.
