Starting the season strong is often the recipe for an effective campaign.
The Bruins return to Pauley Pavilion with the possibility of extending their undefeated start after back-to-back decisive victories.
No. 3 UCLA (5-0) will face Southern University (1-3) Sunday at Pauley Pavilion, marking the fourth meeting between the programs.
“The Big Ten conference is really tough,” said senior guard Gabriela Jaquez. “Getting these games early will let us really learn a lot from them.”
The Bruins improved to 5–0 after a 94–61 win against South Florida at the WBCA Challenge, their third straight game with at least four players scoring in double figures. UCLA established its early margin through efficient shooting, where it shot 61% from the field and opened the contest on a 29-8 run.
Graduate student guard Charlisse Leger-Walker led the initial stretch with 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 start from the field. She finished the evening with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting and added seven assists, contributing to a distribution-heavy offense that produced 55 points in the first half.
Additional scoring came from graduate student guard Gianna Kneepkens, who made two 3-pointers in the opening frame, and freshman guard/forward Lena Bilić, who drained a midrange jumper to close the quarter.
“In the past games, sometimes we’ve let the game come to us,” Leger-Walker said. “I think it’s just going out with that mentality of knowing who we are, what we’re capable of and really trying to punch first, so that we stay aggressive throughout the whole game.”
UCLA continued to generate points from multiple positions on the floor, with Leger-Walker facilitating scoring opportunities for graduate student forward Angela Dugalić and senior center Lauren Betts in the second quarter.
Senior guard Kiki Rice added a 3-pointer and a layup, and the Bruins converted all seven of their free throws in the quarter, with attempts from Jaquez, Betts, Dugalić and Leger-Walker helping to establish a 55-32 halftime lead.
“It’s definitely a privilege having that many ball-handlers,” Leger-Walker said. “Having someone specifically like Kiki, who has been in this system for so long, understanding the offense, where we want to get our best shots … and playing with another really high-IQ player – her specifically – has been really fun.”
Jaquez finished with 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting, and Betts and Kneepkens each added 14 points. Dugalić contributed 13 off the bench, and Rice posted 12 to round out UCLA’s double-digit scorers.
UCLA also recorded 25 defensive rebounds and limited South Florida to a 37% team shooting clip.
With the South Florida matchup complete, UCLA now turns its attention to Southern.
The Bruins hold a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Jaguars.
But UCLA continues to face lingering challenges heading into the matchup, since coach Cori Close said forwards freshman Sienna Betts and senior Timea Gardiner continue to be unavailable because of injuries.
“This week, they’re not going to be available, and we’ll see where we are after that,” Close said. “Timea has been nothing short of brilliant, … and I think Sienna is getting closer.”
The Bruins are seeking to embrace habits synonymous with a championship-caliber team despite the team’s undefeated historical record against the Jaguars.
“I think everybody looked at this week when it came out and (went), ‘Woah, what an opportunity,’” Close said. “So I don’t have to work very hard to motivate them, … but I think that that’s going to be our challenge all year long, and if you really have championship aspirations, you are always relentlessly fighting for that one more possession or that better habit.”
UCLA enters the game with a rotation that has produced consistent scoring depth across its first five matchups.
The Bruins’ early-season performances include contributions from veterans across scoring, rebounding and facilitation, with Leger-Walker, Kneepkens, Jaquez, Rice and Betts each producing double-digit scoring performances in multiple games.
Southern’s biggest scoring threat is junior guard Zaria Hurston, who posted 21 points and six rebounds in the squad’s matchup against No. 13 Ole Miss on Nov. 12.
“We had some off days, so we are really resting our bodies for these upcoming games,” Jaquez said. “We’re just focusing on Southern and getting prepared for a game on Sunday at Pauley, and we are excited to be back.”
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