LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No.1-ranked UCLA women's basketball team (14-0, 3-0 Big Ten) won its first game of the New Year and picked up the 14th-consecutive win of the season against Michigan at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Wednesday afternoon. The final score was 86-70.
UCLA's dynamic duo of juniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice led the team to its win over Michigan (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten). Betts recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds alongside five assists and four blocks. Rice also picked up a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Betts corralled her 500th-career rebound against the Wolverines; Rice recorded her 300th career assist in a Bruin uniform in the competition.
Three other Bruins finished in double figures to contribute to the win. Londynn Jones finished with 13 points on 4-of-6 3-point shooting, while Angela Dugalić recorded twelve points, six rebounds, and three assists. Gabriela Jaquez also reached double figures with twelve points alongside three assists, a steal, and a block.
The Bruins got off to a quick start in the first quarter, getting up 11-2 before allowing a 9-0 Michigan run. Rice scored the first points of the game in the opening possession off of an assist from freshman Elina Aarnisalo. Betts led the team in scoring with six points alongside a big block in the final few minutes of the quarter. The Bruins finished the frame up 17-15 on the Wolverines.
UCLA hit their stride in the second quarter, finishing the half up 40-29. Jaquez led the Bruins with six points in the frame, and Jones and Rice contributed four points each. The Bruins also found success on the defensive end, with a steal from Kendall Dudley leading to an assist to Jaquez on the fast break. Later in the quarter, Betts had a block that was converted into a layup by Dudley. UCLA's offensive effort in the second quarter was widespread, and the Bruins finished the first half with 16 assists, including a dime from Dugalić to Rice on a back cut to end the second quarter.
Both teams fought through the third quarter, with the Bruins finishing up 57-50 at the end of the frame. Both Betts and Rice finished the quarter with four points apiece, with Betts adding four rebounds and Rice dishing out two assists. Timea Gardiner hit a three-pointer alongside two assists. The Bruin defense was consistent throughout the third, with steals from Rice and Aarnisalo and blocks from Betts and Jaquez. The block by Jaquez was converted into a three-point play by Janiah Barker to extend the lead to seven points going into the final frame.
UCLA dominated in the fourth quarter, scoring 29 points in the final ten minutes. Jones scored nine points on 3-4 three-point shooting to the team in the frame. Dugalić recorded seven points in the quarter without missing a shot. Rice finished the fourth period with four points and three assists. The Bruins outscored the Wolverines 29-20 in the final quarter to lead them to their third conference win as members of the Big Ten. The win was also UCLA's third against a top-25 team this season.
UP NEXT - vs Indiana (Jan 4)
The Bruins will travel to Bloomington, Ind. to face off against Indiana at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday, Jan. 4. The game will tip off at 9 a.m. PST and will be broadcast on FOX.
UCLA's dynamic duo of juniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice led the team to its win over Michigan (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten). Betts recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds alongside five assists and four blocks. Rice also picked up a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Betts corralled her 500th-career rebound against the Wolverines; Rice recorded her 300th career assist in a Bruin uniform in the competition.
Three other Bruins finished in double figures to contribute to the win. Londynn Jones finished with 13 points on 4-of-6 3-point shooting, while Angela Dugalić recorded twelve points, six rebounds, and three assists. Gabriela Jaquez also reached double figures with twelve points alongside three assists, a steal, and a block.
The Bruins got off to a quick start in the first quarter, getting up 11-2 before allowing a 9-0 Michigan run. Rice scored the first points of the game in the opening possession off of an assist from freshman Elina Aarnisalo. Betts led the team in scoring with six points alongside a big block in the final few minutes of the quarter. The Bruins finished the frame up 17-15 on the Wolverines.
UCLA hit their stride in the second quarter, finishing the half up 40-29. Jaquez led the Bruins with six points in the frame, and Jones and Rice contributed four points each. The Bruins also found success on the defensive end, with a steal from Kendall Dudley leading to an assist to Jaquez on the fast break. Later in the quarter, Betts had a block that was converted into a layup by Dudley. UCLA's offensive effort in the second quarter was widespread, and the Bruins finished the first half with 16 assists, including a dime from Dugalić to Rice on a back cut to end the second quarter.
Looks like the Ki is for the back door ????
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) January 1, 2025
??: Big Ten Network#GoBruins | @AngelaDugalic x @kiki_rice0 pic.twitter.com/cu44nstett
Both teams fought through the third quarter, with the Bruins finishing up 57-50 at the end of the frame. Both Betts and Rice finished the quarter with four points apiece, with Betts adding four rebounds and Rice dishing out two assists. Timea Gardiner hit a three-pointer alongside two assists. The Bruin defense was consistent throughout the third, with steals from Rice and Aarnisalo and blocks from Betts and Jaquez. The block by Jaquez was converted into a three-point play by Janiah Barker to extend the lead to seven points going into the final frame.
Defend the paint, and push the pace! ???????????????
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) January 1, 2025
??: Big Ten Network#GoBruins | @gabrielarj11 x @tyesouthside pic.twitter.com/d65sZJ1bWe
UCLA dominated in the fourth quarter, scoring 29 points in the final ten minutes. Jones scored nine points on 3-4 three-point shooting to the team in the frame. Dugalić recorded seven points in the quarter without missing a shot. Rice finished the fourth period with four points and three assists. The Bruins outscored the Wolverines 29-20 in the final quarter to lead them to their third conference win as members of the Big Ten. The win was also UCLA's third against a top-25 team this season.
D3?3?3?3?zy money ????
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) January 1, 2025
??: Big Ten Network#GoBruins | @Deeezzy3 pic.twitter.com/wc9ND8tUn9
UP NEXT - vs Indiana (Jan 4)
The Bruins will travel to Bloomington, Ind. to face off against Indiana at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday, Jan. 4. The game will tip off at 9 a.m. PST and will be broadcast on FOX.