This post was updated Feb. 20 at 9:39 p.m.
After her team lost its first game of the season, coach Cori Close said that she knew they would respond.
And sure enough, the Bruins returned to their winning ways.
Taking the court for the first time since losing its top ranking, No. 3 UCLA women’s basketball (25-1, 13-1 Big Ten) emerged victorious over No. 25 Illinois (21-6, 11-5) by a score of 70-55. The game marked the Bruins’ second all-time victory over the Fighting Illini and the squad’s second consecutive – and ninth total – victory over a ranked opponent.
“We got punched in the gut … we lost that battle,” Close said in reference to the team’s loss to USC. “But our commitment is to the war.”
UCLA kept Illinois scoreless for the first four minutes of play. At the end of the first quarter, the Bruins had forced nine Fighting Illini turnovers and forged a six-point lead – despite only shooting 41.2% from the floor.
It wasn’t long before the team found its stride on the offensive side of the floor. UCLA scored 18 second-quarter points, shooting 66.7% from the field and 50% from the arc.
Junior forward Janiah Barker, who has averaged 8.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the Bruins, made a trip to the locker room after sustaining a knee injury early in the second quarter. Barker rejoined the team on the bench with heavy wrapping around her knee and did not return to the competition.
“I didn’t think it was something serious,” Close said. “They were going to try to see if she could run up and down and go at halftime, and she wasn’t able to do so.”
Nonetheless, the Bruins held the Fighting Illini to 18 first half points, tying the lowest first-half scoring total for any opponent this season. By the game’s midway point, UCLA led Illinois 32-18.
Leading the way for the Bruins was junior center and National Player of the Year candidate Lauren Betts. Betts, who was forced to miss the team’s most recent matchup against No. 22 Michigan State due to a right foot injury, scored 12 first half points on 6-of-10 shooting alongside three blocks.
“I just want to make sure the team executes the way we want,” Betts said. “Doing anything I can to help the team win is really important to me.”
(Darlene Sanzon/Assistant Photo editor)
Junior guard Londynn Jones contributed to the Bruins’ offensive success, knocking down 3-of-4 first half shots, including UCLA’s only 3-point make. In addition to her seven points, Jones collected two steals in the first half of play.
Junior forward Gabriela Jaquez led the Bruins in steals with a team-high three during the first half. Jaquez added seven points, four assists and three rebounds to the game’s final box score.
Illinois refused to be put away without a fight, outscoring UCLA 21-11 in the third quarter and trimming the Bruin lead to four. Fighting Illini guard Adalia McKenzie led her squad with 10 third-quarter points, which included six made free throws.
Despite averaging seven fewer rebounds per game than UCLA, Illinois won the battle of the boards through three quarters, grabbing 31 rebounds to UCLA’s 28.
“Too many times we just rely on our length and don’t box out,” Betts said. “Illinois was really aggressive … we have to respond and box out consistently.”
The Bruins opened the fourth quarter on a 13-5 run, with the help of a flurry of buckets from junior guard Kiki Rice. Rice ended the contest as one of three UCLA players to reach double-figure scoring, with 16 points alongside 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
“It’s just about finding the best option for our team,” Rice said. “That’s my job as a point guard to really get everyone involved and make sure our team is getting the best looks possible.”
Betts – who finished the game with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocks – closed the game for the Bruins, knocking down consecutive free throws to stretch the UCLA lead to nine points with under a minute to go.
The game marked the annual Play4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Game, in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Prior to tip-off, a silent auction was held featuring team-signed memorabilia and exclusive experiences, with all proceeds benefiting the Play4Kay Cancer Fund. Scoreboards throughout the arena assumed a hot pink color instead of their usual blue and gold, and the first 1,000 fans to arrive received pink pompoms and T-shirts.
“Over eight million dollars have been raised for women’s cancer research,” Close said. “And we need more … We need to keep fighting. We need to keep raising awareness, and we need to keep raising money for different cancer researchers.”
