USC women’s water polo beats UCLA to reach NCAA final

INDIANAPOLIS — No. 3 USC overcame an early three-goal deficit with a seven-goal run and held off No. 2 UCLA for a 15-13 win in the NCAA women’s water polo semifinal Saturday at IU Natatorium.

With the win, USC (29-4) advances to face top-seeded Stanford in Sunday’s national championship game. The Trojans will seek their eighth national title.

USC trailed 7-4 in the second period but cut the deficit to one by halftime. Tilly Kearns scored twice in the final minutes of the second quarter and added two more early in the third.

Ava Stryker and Rachel Gazzaniga also contributed key goals during USC’s third-quarter rally, which gave the Trojans an 11-7 lead. USC led 13-8 entering the fourth.

USC maintained at least a two-goal lead the rest of the way. UCLA closed the gap late with goals in the final two minutes, including one during a 6-on-4 advantage.

USC’s Anna Reed made multiple saves in the fourth quarter, while Kearns recorded a field block to help preserve the win.

Sunday’s NCAA championship game between USC and Stanford is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.