Inside: Onyenwere, Osborne lead Bruins to rout of Trojans.
It might have been Senior Night for UCLA, but it was a sophomore who led the charge in a 93-51 romp of crosstown rival USC on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion.
Charisma Osborne recorded the ninth tripledouble in UCLA history, Michaela Onyenwere scored 30 points in her final home game and the 10th-ranked Bruins made a school-record 16 3-pointers in their 93-51 victory.
Osborne had 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in her 34 minutes. She is the seventh player in program history to have a triple-double and the first since Japreece Dean against Yale in November 2019.
“I just see such greatness in her and I see her ability to be one of the best guards to ever put on a Bruins uniform,” UCLA coach Cori Close said, “and that’s why I hold her to such a high standard.”
It was a nice bounce-back game for Osborne, who is third in the Pac-12 in scoring (18.1 points per game) but was 4 for 21 from the field in a loss to Oregon State on Sunday.
“She never loses confi- dence and has swagger on nights like this,” Onyenwere said of Osborne.
Lindsay Corsaro, who was also playing her final home game, added 14 points, going 4 for 5 from beyond the arc for UCLA (14-4 overall, 12-4 Pac-12). Onyenwere, an Associated Press preseason All-America selection who is now ninth in program history in career points, had eight rebounds to go with her big
SUMMARY scoring night.
It was the second 30-point game of the season for Onyenwere, who has done it five times in her career. The senior forward made a careerhigh six 3-pointers and was 11 for 19 from the field.
Close said Onyenwere has been working to improve her perimeter shooting and that she was happy to see it come together. Onyenwere is making 40.4% from beyond the arc this season after making only 28.9% her first three seasons.
“Our ability to consistently shoot 3-pointers has been pretty amazing this season. It is one of the best 3-point teams I have had,” Close said. “That gives me a lot of confidence going into the tournament.”
Alissa Pili had 18 points and Jordyn Jenkins added 14 for USC (10-11, 8-10).
The Bruins led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter before breaking it open in the second, outscoring the Trojans 29-12 in the period to extend their lead to 20 at halftime. UCLA hit eight of its 3-pointers during the second quarter, a barrage started by Corsaro. Osborne had 11 points during a 17-2 run, including three 3-pointers as she began her summit to the triple-double.
UCLA finished 16 for 23 from beyond the arc.
“I think it was one of those nights where people are just hot and feeling it and just riding that wave,” Corsaro said. “I also think we’ve been working a lot on drawing defense in when we penetrate and then kicking out. And so I thought we implemented that well.”