UCLA Bruins Dominate Iowa Hawkeyes
In a commanding performance, the No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins defeated No. 8 Iowa 88-65 on Sunday, marking their 15th consecutive win of the season. Angela Dugalic played a pivotal role in this victory, recording a personal-best of 22 points alongside a career-high five steals. The Bruins, now boasting a stunning 21-1 record and a flawless 11-0 in Big Ten conference play, have successfully maintained their undefeated status at home with a perfect 10-0 record.
Key Contributions and Performance
Kiki Rice contributed significantly with 17 points and seven assists, while Lauren Betts added 16 points to the scoreboard. The Bruins showcased their offensive prowess by shooting an impressive 57.8% from the field, including six successful three-pointers out of twelve attempts. This aligns with their strong performance earlier in the season, where they ranked fifth nationally in three-point shooting accuracy at 38.4%. In contrast, the Hawkeyes recorded a field goal percentage of 43.4%.
Iowa’s Struggles
For Iowa (18-3, 9-2), Ava Heiden was the standout scorer with 19 points, followed by Hannah Stuelke who chipped in 13 points. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, this loss marked the second straight defeat on their Los Angeles trip, having previously fallen to Southern California 81-69.
Game Highlights
The game unfolded with Iowa initially taking a brief 5-2 lead, but UCLA quickly responded with a 6-0 run, asserting their dominance from that point forward. By the end of the first quarter, the Bruins were ahead 17-13, and they extended their lead to 28-18 midway through the second quarter. At halftime, UCLA was leading 39-28 with Dugalic providing key support through her ten points.
The third quarter saw the Bruins surge ahead further with an uninterrupted 11-0 run, pushing their lead to 58-30. Although Iowa attempted a comeback, narrowing the deficit to 66-53 with a three-pointer from Stremlow late in the game, UCLA responded aggressively with a 14-4 run to close out the match.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Iowa will host Minnesota in their next game on Thursday, while UCLA prepares to face Rutgers at home on Wednesday.
