This post was updated Jan. 10 at 1:59 a.m.
The ghost of the Pac-12 returned, with UCLA etching another win against its now-Big Ten rival Oregon.
However, the win did not come easy.
No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball (23-0, 11-0 Big Ten) defeated Oregon (16-8, 7-6) 62-52, following an announcement Friday night that the 6-foot-7 junior center Lauren Betts would remain at UCLA for her senior season. However, a toe-to-toe matchup against Oregon’s very own 6-foot-8 center limited Betts, forcing the Bruins to rely on their perimeter shooting.
“It wasn’t our best day,” said coach Cori Close. “The reality is we found a way to win, we found a way to make defense of our anchor and I want this team to feel light and joyful.”
The Bruins struggled to find their rhythm early, managing only two 3-point shots for a total of six points in the first four minutes. The Ducks shared the struggle, missing multiple jumpers to start the game.
After a jumper by junior guard Gabriela Jaquez and a paint basket by Betts, neither team put points up on the board. Capitalizing on the Bruins’ five turnovers in the first half, the Ducks found the net for a total of seven points in the first frame.
The scoring drought was ended by a pair of free throws from junior forward Kiki Rice, pushing the Bruins to a five-point lead to finish the first 10 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, the Bruins took control of the board. From beyond the arc, UCLA maintained a strong lead in shooting, with junior guard Londynn Jones finishing out the half with nine points – all from the perimeter. Despite Betts leading in turnovers, she contributed the most to the Bruins’ 14 defensive rebounds.
A turnover sequence with three minutes remaining in the second quarter brought the Ducks closer to the Bruins with a five-point difference.
At the free point line, Rice extended the lead and maintained UCLA’s perfect free-throw record heading into the second half. The Bruins also outpaced Oregon in assists, with freshman forward Elina Aarnisalo finding Jones multiple times.
“We talk about how much of a team we are in depth,” Jones said, “It can be anyone’s day, but just doing what we do, preparing for it and executing it.”
The Bruins entered the locker room with a narrow six-point lead.
The beginning of the second half had a layup from Oregon’s center, Phillipina Kyei, to minimize UCLA’s lead to its smallest margin of the game at two points.
“I really challenged the team in the locker room to know that if it’s not their night they don’t need to worry,” Close said. “This is a team game, and someone is going to have their back.”
Kyei, who started all 32 games last season and earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors, averaged 12.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season. The Duck was tied with Betts in rebounding during both teams’ final year in the Pac-12.
A Jones steal gave the Bruins a back-to-back sequence of jumpers, extending the lead to 30-23. The Ducks answered back with a 3 of their own but were unable to surpass the Bruins.
With 20 seconds left in the third quarter, Betts found the net off an Aarnisalo assist for the first time that frame, giving the Bruins a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter of the game.
Despite a slow Betts performance in the final quarter, UCLA outscored Oregon in the paint 24-16.
“I think in the second half we really tried to move [Betts] off of more screens,” Close said. “We talked at halftime that they were pushing all of our forwards, not just Lauren, too far, and we’re catching in the eight to 10 foot range instead of right around the basket, so we needed to move her around more.”
The Bruins continued to extend their lead well into the quarter. Scoring a season-high 21 points, Jones capped off her performance by sinking her fourth 3-pointer of the game, followed by consequence free throws after an Oregon foul. Ranked fourth on the team in scoring, the Bruin led the team in 3-point shooting.
“I work on these shots daily, and shoutout to my team for getting me those looks,” Jones said “It’s just focusing on the defense, as guards we have to read the defense, and that’s a part of the game.”
A steal from Aarnisalo ended the game with the Bruins etching their 23rd consecutive win of a record-breaking season start.
UCLA will return to Los Angeles to face longtime rival No. 7 USC at the Galen Center on Thursday.
