The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team, ranked No. 2 in the nation, defeated Rutgers with a score of 86-46 on Wednesday night at home. This win improves UCLA’s record to 22-1 overall and 12-0 in Big Ten Conference play, while Rutgers falls to 9-14 overall and 1-11 in conference.
Five Bruins scored in double figures during the game. Senior Kiki Rice led the team with 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Senior Gabriela Jaquez contributed 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Senior Lauren Betts made all five of her field goal attempts for a total of 11 points, along with three rebounds and three assists in less than 14 minutes on the court. Freshman Sienna Betts also added 11 points plus four rebounds and an assist. Graduate student Charlisse Leger-Walker finished with 11 points, seven assists, five steals, and four rebounds.
UCLA responded to an early Rutgers three-pointer by going on a 12-0 run. Lauren Betts scored UCLA’s first basket following the opening shot from Rutgers. Kneepkens set up Rice for another layup soon after. “Rice later finished a highlight-reel moment, using a stutter step to beat her first defender before completing the double-clutch layup.” On the next possession she hit a three-pointer that prompted Rutgers to call timeout.
After the timeout, freshman Lena Bilić made a three-pointer off a pass from Leger-Walker. Leger-Walker then recorded multiple steals leading to baskets from Jaquez and Angela Dugalić. When Rutgers ended their scoring drought with another three-pointer—after missing twelve consecutive shots—Jaquez responded immediately with her own three-point shot.
By the end of the first quarter, UCLA led 26-6. Jaquez had scored ten points in that period while Rice added seven; both outscored Rutgers’ entire team for the quarter.
In the second quarter, UCLA forced turnovers on Rutgers’ first three possessions as Jaquez continued to score inside. After a brief scoring lull for both teams, Rice grabbed a defensive rebound and took it coast-to-coast for another basket. With less than a minute left in the half, Leger-Walker scored on a fadeaway shot before collecting another steal and finishing at the rim while drawing a foul just before halftime.
At halftime UCLA led by twenty-one points (40-19). The Bruins had shot 55 percent from the field and recorded eight steals by that point.
Lauren Betts opened scoring again after halftime by converting an “and-one” opportunity and adding another basket off an offensive rebound shortly thereafter. A series of successful possessions—including contributions from Leger-Walker—extended UCLA’s lead further during a third-quarter run. As time expired at the end of third quarter Dugalić stole possession from Rutgers.
Heading into the final quarter UCLA held a commanding lead at 68-27.
Sienna Betts started strong in the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets; Dugalić soon followed suit with consecutive scores as well. Bilić connected on her second three-pointer of the night midway through the period before Sienna Betts capped her performance with several more inside finishes.
UCLA maintained statistical advantages throughout: they led in field goal percentage (56%), total rebounds (41 to 18), steals (13 to 6), and assists (25 to 12).
The Bruins remain undefeated at home this season following this victory over Rutgers.
UCLA’s next game is scheduled against Michigan on Sunday, February 8th in Ann Arbor. Tip-off will be at noon Pacific Time with television coverage provided by FOX.
