No. 3 UCLA extended its winning streak to 12 games after a decisive 96-48 win over Purdue at home on Wednesday night. The Bruins improved to an 18-1 overall record and remain undefeated in Big Ten play at 8-0.
All five UCLA starters finished with double-digit points, including Gabriela Jaquez, who had a career-best second half, scoring 23 of her total 25 points after halftime. Jaquez also contributed four rebounds and two assists and was highly efficient in the final two quarters, making nine of ten field goals.
Senior Lauren Betts notched her eighth double-double of the season, ending with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and three steals. Kiki Rice also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds alongside five assists. Gianna Kneepkens reached a personal milestone by making her 300th career three-pointer; she ended the game with 14 points.
Jaquez achieved a new personal best for games in a season with more than 11 points scored—she has now surpassed that mark in fifteen out of nineteen games this year.
UCLA opened strong by scoring on its first three possessions for an early lead. The team maintained control throughout the game through balanced offense and strong defense, holding Purdue to just eight points in the first quarter while building a comfortable margin.
The Bruins led by as much as 26 at halftime (46-20), propelled by Rice’s nine second-quarter points and Kneepkens’ outside shooting. UCLA continued to dominate defensively, forcing turnovers and limiting Purdue to low shooting percentages from both the field and beyond the arc.
After halftime, Jaquez led another surge for UCLA, starting the third quarter with aggressive offensive rebounding and consecutive scores. She hit back-to-back threes during a run where she made all four of her shot attempts for ten straight Bruin points.
In the fourth quarter, Leger-Walker connected on her third consecutive three-pointer before Kneepkens made her milestone shot from distance. Jaquez added several more baskets off fast breaks and pull-up jumpers as UCLA extended its lead further during a lengthy scoring run that put the game out of reach.
By the end of regulation, UCLA had forced Purdue into committing 23 turnovers while leading in nearly every statistical category: blocks (6-2), steals (16-5), rebounds (39-29), assists (24-14), and three-point shooting percentage (59%). The Bruins never trailed during the contest.
UCLA will next face Northwestern on Sunday, January 25 in Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT on Big Ten Network.
