No. 2 UCLA women’s basketball dominated Rutgers Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion, securing an 86-46 victory. The Bruins (22-1, 12-0 Big Ten) were led by Kiki Rice, who scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Gabriela Jaquez contributed 14 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter.
First Quarter Sets the Tone
UCLA established a commanding lead early, finishing the first quarter ahead 26-6. Rutgers struggled from the field, missing five layups and committing five turnovers that UCLA capitalized on for 11 points. This marked the fewest first-quarter points allowed by the Bruins this season.
Turnovers and Consistency Remain Focuses
Rutgers committed a total of 18 turnovers, resulting in 25 points for UCLA. Despite the significant first-quarter advantage, the Bruins’ lead only grew to 40-19 by halftime, as they scored just 14 points in the second quarter compared to Rutgers’ 13.
Coach Cori Close emphasized the need for consistent performance. “The next piece of discipline that we need to grab is learning how to be more consistent,” she said. “We haven’t proven…that we can put 40 minutes of disciplined basketball together.”
UCLA continued to rotate players throughout the game, with eight Bruins seeing more than 19 minutes of action. Kiki Rice noted the value of these rotations, stating, “It’s a long year, so we want to protect our bodies…We need to be able to play with different lineups.”
Betts Sisters Shine
Sienna Betts contributed nine points in the fourth quarter, finishing with 11 total – matching her sister Lauren’s scoring output for the first time at UCLA. Lauren Betts, however, saw a season-low 13 minutes and 38 seconds of playing time.
What’s Next?
UCLA has six conference games remaining before the Big Ten tournament. Their next contest is scheduled for noon PST Sunday at No. 8 Michigan. If the Bruins continue their winning streak, they could maintain their position at the top of the Big Ten standings. A loss to Michigan, however, could tighten the race for the conference title. It is also possible that UCLA will continue to experiment with player rotations to prepare for a variety of opponents in the postseason.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did UCLA achieve such a large lead?
UCLA’s first-quarter dominance, combined with Rutgers’ 18 turnovers that resulted in 25 points for the Bruins, contributed to the significant lead.
Who led the scoring for UCLA?
Kiki Rice led the Bruins with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Gabriela Jaquez added 14 points.
What was Coach Close’s primary concern after the game?
Coach Close expressed a need for the team to demonstrate more consistent performance throughout the entirety of games, even against opponents of differing skill levels.
What factors will be most important for UCLA as they move forward in the Big Ten season?
