Coach Cori Close preaches consistency as the standard for her team.
Remaining consistent, though, is difficult to do when the bar is an 87-point victory.
Coming off its largest win differential in nearly five decades, No. 4 UCLA women’s basketball (11-1, 1-0 Big Ten) had no trouble following up its historic night with a 106-44 domination over Long Beach State (0-10, 0-2 Big West) Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion. The second consecutive triple-digit victory closed nonconference play for the Bruins, who will commence the rest of their Big Ten slate Dec. 28.
Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez generated early separation for UCLA, opening the game with four 3-pointers on a perfect clip. Jaquez entered the game with a team-high 50% 3-point shooting percentage, and her 83% clip in Saturday’s game only improved her prolific accuracy rate.
Jaquez’s shooting efficiency paved the way for the Bruins, with the senior ending the game with 17 points and four rebounds. But it was UCLA’s depth that ultimately allowed for the back-to-back triple-digit outings.
Not only did Close’s squad score 45 points off the bench, but four of its five starters posted double digits, including graduate student guard Gianna Kneepkens, who notched her first double-double at UCLA with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Even freshman guard Christina Karamouzi – who averages 3.4 minutes per game played – logged her first-ever field goal with a successful attempt from the perimeter in the fourth quarter.
Fellow freshman forward Sienna Betts made an early impact with four points across the initial frame, netting both her field goal attempts. Saturday was just the Centennial, Colorado, local’s second collegiate game after missing the first 10 games of the season because of a left lower leg injury.
Betts’ minutes restriction was expanded to 15 minutes after she was limited to 10 minutes during Tuesday’s win. The increased court time allowed for boosted production from the freshman, who ended the game with 14 points and two assists.
One of those assists connected with her older sister, senior center Lauren Betts, as the pair’s chemistry was on display Saturday afternoon. Off the hands of her younger sister, Lauren Betts made a long-range shot from just inside the 3-point line in the second quarter.
Senior center Lauren Betts turns through a defender on her way to the basket. Betts logged 17 points and her first 3-point attempt of the season Saturday afternoon. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
The reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year has discussed expanding her shooting range in the offseason, and she gave fans a taste of that with her first 3-point attempt of the season coming in the third quarter.
The defensive dominance that held Cal Poly to just 28 points early in the week was on display Saturday for UCLA, limiting the Beach to just 32.7% from the field, compared to the Bruins’ 55.3%.
Senior guard Kiki Rice’s nine defensive rebounds, which put her on the verge of double-double, helped limit Long Beach’s second-chance opportunities.
Senior guard Kiki Rice dribbles the ball. Rice went 5-for-8 from the field en route to recording 15 points against Long Beach. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
The dominant night ended with the third basket of the season from senior guard/forward Megan Grant, who generated some of the loudest cheers of the night when she landed a layup through contact, drawing a foul in the blowout’s closing minutes.