UCLA Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Rutgers
In a commanding display of basketball, the No. 2 ranked UCLA women’s team triumphed over Rutgers with an impressive score of 86-46 on Wednesday night, marking their 16th consecutive victory. This win solidifies the Bruins’ dominant record of 22 wins and only 1 loss, maintaining an unbeaten streak in the Big Ten with a perfect 12-0.
Key Performers
Kiki Rice led the scoring for UCLA with 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Gabriela Jaquez contributed 14 points. Notably, Lauren Betts showcased her efficiency on the court, scoring 11 points on perfect shooting (5-for-5) in just 14 minutes of play, her least time on the court this season.
Game Highlights
The game started decisively in favor of the Bruins, as they shut down the Scarlet Knights by allowing them only two 3-pointers in the first quarter, leading 26-6 after a streak of 16 unanswered points. Although Rutgers attempted to rally by outscoring UCLA 14-13 in the second quarter, they went into halftime trailing substantially at 40-19.
Continuing their aggressive performance, UCLA dominated the third quarter by outscoring Rutgers 28-8. The Bruins’ defense was relentless, restricting Rutgers to just three field goals during this period, despite a brief offensive spark from Lauryn Swann, who netted two consecutive 3-pointers. During this quarter, Betts played a crucial role by scoring seven of the first 12 points.
In the fourth quarter, Sienna Betts, Lauren’s younger sister, made her mark by scoring nine of her 11 points, highlighting the Betts family’s impact on the game. UCLA’s third-quarter surge culminated in their largest lead of the night at 43 points, following Lena Bilic’s 3-pointer.
Turnovers and Rebounding
Swann was the standout for Rutgers, leading her team with 14 points. Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, their efforts were undermined by 18 turnovers, which UCLA capitalized on, converting them into 25 points. The Bruins also dominated the rebounding battle, grabbing an impressive 41 boards compared to Rutgers’ 18 and showing their strength in the paint with a 44-14 advantage.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Rutgers will return home to host Minnesota on Sunday, while UCLA prepares to face No. 8 Michigan in an anticipated matchup that will showcase the top two teams in the Big Ten.
