Fresh off their first home game win of the season as No. 1, UCLA marched on to defend their ranking and shatter Creighton’s eight-game win streak in an impressive 70-41 defensive feat at the Bay Area Women’s Classic.
The Bruins have emerged victorious in their previous three battles with the Blue Jays, and Friday night was no different.
The Bruins were aggressive from the get-go, putting pressure on the defense and leading 26-4 at the end of the first quarter after scoring 15 unanswered points. They dominated Creighton in every category, claiming 14 rebounds and moving into the second quarter with a score of 26 on the board, a striking 22 points ahead of their opponents.
With star player Lauren Betts still confined to the bench due to injury, other players had a chance to step into the spotlight, and standout Kiki Rice rose to the occasion. Dubbed “spicy Rice” by commentators, the junior guard scored an impressive 15 points in the first half alone. Angela Dugalic, a graduate student, also contributed to the team’s dominance over Creighton with 14 rebounds and 13 total points, demonstrating the team’s versatility and depth. “To have different people step up on different nights is really a huge weapon,” said coach Cori Close in a postgame interview.
Despite Creighton managing to outscore UCLA in the second quarter 19-16, they were unsuccessful in closing the gap and the Bruins maintained a comfortable lead for the rest of the game. Close’s team returned after halftime with the same strength and aggression they had exhibited in the first two quarters, holding Blue Jay stars Morgan Maly and Lauren Jensen to a combined game total of 19 points, and the Bruins remained in the driver’s seat till the night ended with a score of 70-41.
With their victory over Creighton, the UCLA Women’s Basketball team has defended their No. 1 spot and improved their record to 12-0. After a much-deserved holiday break, they are slated to face Nebraska on December 29 at home in Pauley Pavilion.
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Featured Image Photographed by Michael Gallagher/Daily Bruin
