UCLA ladies’s basketball coach Cori Shut couldn’t have imagined a greater means for her workforce to wrap up nonconference play than Saturday afternoon’s 106-44 trouncing of Lengthy Seashore State at Pauley Pavilion.
Coming off Tuesday’s 115-28 overcome Cal Poly San Luis Obispo — UCLA’s largest margin of victory through the NCAA period — the Bruins picked up the place they left off, main wire-to-wire for his or her fifth consecutive win since struggling their lone loss to Texas on Nov. 26.
“We’re rising … we had a few lapses as we speak and we’re not there but, however we’re on track,” Shut mentioned. “I like the selflessness of this workforce.”
Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez led the best way with 17 factors and made 5 of six three-point pictures. Angela Dugalic added 13 factors whereas Gianna Kneepkens had 10 factors and 10 rebounds. All 11 Bruins who performed scored not less than one basket.
UCLA ahead Sienna Betts, prime, and Lengthy Seashore State ahead Kennan Ka dive for the ball through the Bruins’ win Saturday.
(Jessie Alcheh / Related Press)
Taking part in their final recreation in Westwood till Jan. 3, when they may host crosstown rival USC, the Bruins (11-1 general, 1-0 in Large Ten) seemed each bit just like the No. 4 workforce within the nation, enhancing to 6-0 at house. They’re ranked fourth in each the Related Press and coaches polls behind Connecticut, Texas and South Carolina.
“I’m actually pleased with our nonconference schedule. Not many native groups are keen to play us, so I wish to praise Lengthy Seashore State,” Shut mentioned. “Our beginning guards [Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice] mixed for 17 assists and one turnover. Now we have depth and steadiness and that’s an incredible luxurious to have.”
Jaquez scored 9 of the Bruins’ first 12 factors. She opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the highest of the important thing and added triples on back-to-back possessions to extend the margin to eight factors. Her fourth three-pointer, from the suitable nook, prolonged the result in 21-5.
Sienna Betts’ jumper within the lane put UCLA up by 19 on the finish of the primary quarter. The sophomore completed with 14 factors and senior Lauren Betts added 17. The sisters’ dad and mom, Michelle and Andy, performed volleyball and basketball, respectively, for Lengthy Seashore State. Sienna wears her mother’s No. 16 whereas Lauren dons her dad’s No. 51.
Rice’s steal and layup made it 46-18 with 3:28 left within the first half and Leger-Walker’s tip-in on the buzzer gave the Bruins a 34-point benefit at halftime. Rice had a whole recreation, contributing 15 factors, 9 rebounds, seven assists, 4 steals and one block.
The end result continued the Bruins’ current dominance towards the Seashore. UCLA has received six straight head-to-head conferences, together with a 51-point blowout within the faculties’ earlier matchup final December, when Shut turned the all-time winningest coach in program historical past by incomes her 297th victory to surpass Billie Moore (296-181). Lengthy Seashore State has not overwhelmed the Bruins since 1987 below Joan Bonvicini, who posted a 16-1 file versus UCLA in her 12 seasons on the Seashore from 1979 to 1991.
The Bruins’ main give attention to protection was slowing down sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown, who entered Saturday averaging 17.2 factors per recreation. She scored 10 of the Seashore’s 11 factors within the first quarter however was held scoreless the remainder of the best way. She has scored in double figures in 9 of 10 video games. Guard Christy Reynoso added six factors for Seashore (0-10 general, 0-2 in Large West).
The Bruins journey to Columbus on Dec. 28 to face No. 21 Ohio State (9-1).
