UCLA Women’s Basketball Dominates Indiana
In a dominant performance, the second-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team overwhelmed Indiana with a score of 92-48 on Sunday, marking their 19th consecutive victory. Kiki Rice was instrumental in the win, contributing 17 points and securing nine rebounds. Lauren Betts showcased her skills with a stellar double-double, netting 16 points alongside 14 rebounds, bringing her season total to ten double-doubles and elevating her career total to 43.
UCLA’s Impressive Record
The Bruins’ record now stands at 25 wins and only one loss, with an impeccable 15-0 in Big Ten play, remaining undefeated since their November 26 defeat to fourth-ranked Texas at the Players Era Championship. This streak is currently the third longest in the nation, trailing only North Dakota State’s 21 consecutive wins and UConn’s remarkable 43-game win streak.
Team Contributions
Other notable contributors for UCLA included Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens, who each added 12 points, while Gabriela Jaquez chipped in with 11 points. Both Sienna Betts and Lena Bilic scored ten points, rounding off a comprehensive team effort.
Indiana’s Struggles
For Indiana, who fell to a record of 14-13 and are 3-12 in conference matches, Maya Makalusky emerged as the team’s leading scorer with 13 points. Teammate Lenee Beaumont managed to add 11 points but struggled significantly, hitting just 4 of 14 attempts, while Nevaeh Caffey finished with ten points. A crucial moment in the game occurred when Shay Ciezki, the Big Ten’s leading scorer averaging 24.0 points per game and ranked fifth nationally, sustained an ankle injury late in the first quarter and was unable to return to the game.
Game Statistics
Indiana faced significant challenges, achieving a season-low shooting percentage of 31%, which included a dismal 20% from beyond the arc (4 of 20). This poor offensive outing tied their season low for points scored. In contrast, UCLA excelled on the boards, collecting a season-high 23 offensive rebounds and dominating the overall rebounding statistics at 51-24. The Bruins capitalized on their offensive rebounds to outscore the Hoosiers 28-2 in second-chance points. Furthermore, UCLA showcased offensive efficiency with only four turnovers compared to Indiana’s 13 turnovers, which UCLA converted into 25 points.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, UCLA will host No. 25 Washington on Thursday, while Indiana prepares to play against Oregon next Sunday.
