UCLA Women Beat USC for the First Time Since 1981

As sports rivalries go, USC-UCLA in women’s basketball seemed about ready to follow Ali-Frazier, Russell-Chamberlain, Colts-Giants.

Into the past tense.

Seven straight victories by the Trojans had given this once-lively competition the big-chill treatment. Mismatches are no fun, and only 973 spectators turned out Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion for the latest installment of the USC-UCLA series.

But that crowd witnessed a revival, of sorts, as the Bruins upset the 12th-ranked Trojans, 77-73, knocking the two-time, defending NCAA champions into third place in the Western Collegiate Athletic Assn.

And they did it in a most exciting fashion. The Bruins held off a late Trojan surge, despite playing the final six minutes without starters Dora Dome and Jackie Joyner, who had fouled out. The game was tied seven times in the second half.

UCLA broke away to a five-point lead (74-69) with 1:18 left after Shari Biggs sank a turn-around jumper as the 30-second clock expired. But the Bruins nearly blew the game at the free-throw line, where Annette Keur missed twice in the bonus situation and Biggs made one of two.

USC’s Yolanda Fletcher made a jumper, and Cheryl Miller scored from inside and was fouled with 26 seconds remaining and the Trojans trailing, 75-73.

Miller missed the foul shot, but Fletcher tipped the rebound to teammate Kalen Wright, and the Trojans called a timeout with 17 seconds left.

Fletcher, however, missed an off-balance jumper with eight seconds to go, and after controlling the rebound and being fouled, UCLA’s Anne Dean made both free throws with three seconds left. That gave the Bruins their first win over the Trojans since 1981.

UCLA’s 1-3-1 zone held Miller to two points in the first half. She finished with 22 but made only 7 of 22 shots from the field and 8 of 15 from the free-throw line.