| Women’s Basketball |
|---|
| Indiana — 48 |
| UCLA — 92 |
Played for hope, strength and every woman who has fought a battle in their story. The No.2 UCLA women’s basketball team (25-1, 15-0 Big Ten) welcomed Indiana (14-13, 3-12 Big Ten) to a Play4Kay, Kay Yow Cancer Fund spreading awareness for those who fight against the cancers that affect women, game on Sunday at noon at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.
Coming off a high from their last winning game against Michigan State last week, the Bruins were well set against Indiana. Both teams were last seen together this past year in January after a grueling beatdown of 73-62, making it UCLA’s third win against Indiana since 2018.
Off of that same high, UCLA’s graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens made a jump shot 11 feet out from an assist from UCLA’s graduate guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, scoring the first two point of the game within the first beginning three minutes of the first quarter. With that same momentum, UCLA’s senior guard Gabriela Jaquez sets the tone for the Bruins’ offense, creating a window for her teammates to make it through the Hoosiers to score. The Bruins secured the quarter with a total of 17-10.
Building off that window, Leger-Walker steals her chance and makes a 18-foot jump shot, creating a team build up of patterns the Bruins followed throughout the game. The Hoosiers were able to bring in a few of their defensive rebounds to pick up the pace, the Bruins were unmatchable. Making her way through, UCLA’s senior center Lauren Betts makes a free throw one of one moments after her tip shot, brought the Bruins up to two points. Lauren Betts followed this stride throughout the quarter, making two free throws, one layup and several defensive rebounds. The Bruins were then sitting at 47-20.
“Especially in the second half, the way we continued to compete regardless of the score board was something we were really proud of as a group.” said senior guard Kiki Rice. “We set some tough goals for us in terms of keep illuminating our turnovers, winning the rebounding battle and both ends of the floor.”
Continuing that same stride as Lauren Betts, Kneepkens came in with steam with yet another jumpshot 10 feet out moments before making her one of one free throw. Building off of the teamwork already in play, Rice assisted Lauren Betts with her layup. Soon after, Rice made her jump shop 17 feet out, not once but twice, securing the score of the 3rd quarter at 76-34.
The twice effect was in motion for UCLA. Jaquez made two of two of her free throws which allowed the Bruins to pick back up after a few missed layups. The buildup of tension was getting heavier the closer the clock reached zero. Both teams accumulated missed shots and bad passes which led to a halt in the momentum the Bruins established earlier in the first two quarters. However, that did not stop the Bruins for long. UCLA’s freshman forward Lena Bilić made a jump shop 16 feet out and moments after UCLA’s freshman forward Sienna Betts made a jump shot 10 feet out with an assist from Jaquez, bringing the momentum back up and the final score to 92-48.
“We wanna be a really well balanced team.” said Lauren Betts. “We wanna make sure we use every person’s skills on this team. I think we’ve done a really good job at just continuing to do that every single day at practice… I am just really proud of how we’ve been able to show up.”
The Bruins demonstrated their strength at the Play4Kay game, inspiring fans in the stands covered in pink. The Bruins hope to carry that same strength, hope and fight this week on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. PST at Pauley Pavilion against the Washington Huskies.
