UCLA Bruins Dominate Purdue Boilermakers
In a commanding performance, the No. 3 UCLA Bruins overwhelmed the Purdue Boilermakers with a decisive 96-48 victory in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. Gabriela Jaquez led the charge, scoring an impressive 25 points while shooting an astonishing 10-of-11 from the field. With this victory, UCLA improved to 18-1 overall and maintained an unbeaten record of 8-0 in the Big Ten, solidifying their spot at the top of the conference standings ahead of idle Iowa.
Game Highlights
From the opening tip, it was clear UCLA intended to dominate. They jumped out to an early lead, netting the first seven points of the game and concluding the first quarter with a pair of midrange jumpers from 6-foot-7 senior Lauren Betts, who contributed eight points in just eight minutes. Betts ended the night with 16 points and recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.
The Bruins extended their lead significantly, outscoring Purdue 27-7 during a crucial stretch bridging the first and second quarters. Kiki Rice added nine points to the score, Gianna Kneepkens contributed eight, and Betts had six points during this offensive surge, helping UCLA establish a commanding 29-point lead before they took a substantial 46-20 advantage into halftime.
Defensive Dominance
Defensively, UCLA was equally formidable, forcing Purdue into 14 turnovers in the first two quarters, which led to 20 points for the Bruins. They stifled the Boilermakers’ shooting efforts, limiting them to just 1-for-11 from three-point range and 8-for-27 overall.
Purdue’s Standouts
On the other side, Nya Smith was the standout for Purdue, scoring 14 points in the loss, while 6-foot-7 Avery Gordon contributed 13 points. Despite shooting at a 57% clip in the third quarter, Purdue still found themselves trailing 68-38 by the end of the period and only managed to score 10 points in the final quarter. Jaquez ignited a spark for UCLA at the start of the third, scoring 10 consecutive points after the Bruins opened with four missed shots.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Purdue will face off against their rival Indiana at home on Sunday, while UCLA is set to hit the road for a matchup against Northwestern, marking the beginning of a two-game excursion in the Midwest.
