Have read game stories about the game. I don't think they really nailed it.
Yes, in overview - our defense shut Watkins and SC down in the second half. True. But I was looking at the game stats again and this is what I see:
SC pulled down 21 offensive rebounds to UCLA's 4. That's on positioning, toughness and want-to. Plus, SC is more athletic and quicker overall.. UCLA has some tall players who aren't all that flexible, to move quickly, get down for loose balls. Only Jaquez all the time and Rice some of the time get down after loose balls.
Yes, the turnovers were bad - UCLA committed 24 of them (again) but SC had 19 turnovers. The difference was just five. But points off turnovers were UCLA 17 to USC 14 - a net plus of three points for the Bruins. Offensive rebounds were 21 for SC and 4 for UCLA; second chance points were close also as it turns out - SC 10 to UCLA 7 = three point edge to SC. Those balance out.
The most significant difference in the stats is that UCLA hit 52% of their shots while SC hit 34% of theirs. Thanks to the Bruins' defense. The reason it was so close is - remember all those offensive rebounds? - UCLA got 44 shots in this game while USC took 70 - that's a difference of 26 more shots for the Trojans.
The Bruins won because of their defense, because Cori Close finally - in the second half - went all out sending multiple defenders at Juju Watkins to stop her from singlehandedly leading her team to beat us. And because of the amazing defense of the 7 UCLA players who played all the meaningful minutes in the fourth quarter (and late third quarter too iirc): six members of the junior class - Betts, Rice, Jaquez (who did wonders playing with four fouls on her), Barker, Gardiner, Jones and Dugalic (who I think played just four minutes in the final quarter).
It was a terrific win and we'll take it and hope it fuels a run to a National Championship. But it was also a great escape.