Sunday, December 29
Los Angeles, Calif.
2 p.m.
UCLA
13-0,2-0Big Ten
91
vs
54
Nebraska
10-3,1-1Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Nebraska
17
13
13
11
54
UCLA
21
16
31
23
91
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
No. 1 Bruins Squash Cornhusker Hopes in Second Half
December 29, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES - The No. 1-ranked UCLA women's basketball team (13-0, 2-0 Big Ten) picked up its second conference win in the Big Ten over Nebraska at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Sunday afternoon. The win was the Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close's 300th victory with the team.
UCLA outscored the Cornhuskers 54-24 in the second half; the final score was 91-54.
Junior Kiki Rice scored 18 points against the Huskers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten), including her 1,000th point in a Bruin uniform. She is the 38th Bruin in program history to reach 1,000 career points. Rice did not miss a shot in the game (8-for-8 FG) and contributed six rebounds and four steals to help lead the Bruins to their 13th consecutive win.
Junior Lauren Betts returned after missing two games due to injury to score a game-high 21 points and grab eight rebounds.
The Bruins got off to a slow start in the first quarter but closed the framec with a score of 21-17. The team struggled with turnovers, picking up eight in the first. Rice scored the first seven points of the game for the Bruins. Betts also found success in the first ten minutes, picking up seven points and four rebounds. Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jaquez each contributed a three-pointer.
UCLA continued to struggle against Nebraska's defense but found its footing at the end of the second quarter. Jones laced another three-pointer in the opening two minutes of the second quarter before the team was held scoreless for over three minutes. Rice scored her 1000th point as a Bruin in the second frame off of a Euro step into a left-handed layup. Betts led the quarter in scoring with six points. The Bruins began to hit their stride at the end of the second, going on a 10-0 run and finishing the half up 37-30.
The Bruins pulled away from the Huskers in the third quarter, outscoring the new Big Ten foe 31-13 and finishing the frame up 68-43. Rice led the way with seven points on perfect efficiency. Betts and Janiah Barker each put up six points, with Barker hitting 6-of-6 shots from the foul line. Angela Dugalić also continued to influence both ends of the floor, finishing the third with three points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
UCLA found success in the fourth quarter because of a balanced attack on both ends of the floor. Timea Gardiner led the quarter with 11 points on perfect shooting in the final ten minutes. Freshman Zania Socka-Ngueman made her mark on the defensive end in the fourth, picking up a block, a steal, and three rebounds. Dugalić also continued to be dominant in the fourth quarter, scoring six points alongside two blocks. The Bruins closed out the 37-point victory with a bucket from the Serbian on her birthday.
UP NEXT - vs. No. 23 Michigan (Jan 1)
The Bruins will return to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom to take on No. 23 Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
UCLA outscored the Cornhuskers 54-24 in the second half; the final score was 91-54.
Junior Kiki Rice scored 18 points against the Huskers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten), including her 1,000th point in a Bruin uniform. She is the 38th Bruin in program history to reach 1,000 career points. Rice did not miss a shot in the game (8-for-8 FG) and contributed six rebounds and four steals to help lead the Bruins to their 13th consecutive win.
Junior Lauren Betts returned after missing two games due to injury to score a game-high 21 points and grab eight rebounds.
The Bruins got off to a slow start in the first quarter but closed the framec with a score of 21-17. The team struggled with turnovers, picking up eight in the first. Rice scored the first seven points of the game for the Bruins. Betts also found success in the first ten minutes, picking up seven points and four rebounds. Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jaquez each contributed a three-pointer.
Welcome back, Lo ??
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 29, 2024
??: B1G+#GoBruins | @tyesouthside x @laurenbetts12 pic.twitter.com/5prWfZboxs
UCLA continued to struggle against Nebraska's defense but found its footing at the end of the second quarter. Jones laced another three-pointer in the opening two minutes of the second quarter before the team was held scoreless for over three minutes. Rice scored her 1000th point as a Bruin in the second frame off of a Euro step into a left-handed layup. Betts led the quarter in scoring with six points. The Bruins began to hit their stride at the end of the second, going on a 10-0 run and finishing the half up 37-30.
The Bruins pulled away from the Huskers in the third quarter, outscoring the new Big Ten foe 31-13 and finishing the frame up 68-43. Rice led the way with seven points on perfect efficiency. Betts and Janiah Barker each put up six points, with Barker hitting 6-of-6 shots from the foul line. Angela Dugalić also continued to influence both ends of the floor, finishing the third with three points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
BIRTHDAY BUCKETS ??????
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 29, 2024
??: B1G+#GoBruins | @ElinaAarnisalo x @AngelaDugalic pic.twitter.com/WZyuoEhwJF
UCLA found success in the fourth quarter because of a balanced attack on both ends of the floor. Timea Gardiner led the quarter with 11 points on perfect shooting in the final ten minutes. Freshman Zania Socka-Ngueman made her mark on the defensive end in the fourth, picking up a block, a steal, and three rebounds. Dugalić also continued to be dominant in the fourth quarter, scoring six points alongside two blocks. The Bruins closed out the 37-point victory with a bucket from the Serbian on her birthday.
UP NEXT - vs. No. 23 Michigan (Jan 1)
The Bruins will return to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom to take on No. 23 Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Nebr
UCLA
FG%
.333
.559
3FG%
.158
.235
FT%
.591
.750
RB
18
48
TO
19
26
STL
12
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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