UCLA Women's Basketball Wins First Conference Title as Bruins Beat Badgers, 80-60
On Senior Day, UCLA celebrated the school's first women's basketball regular season title.
After today’s 80-60 win over the Wisconsin Badgers, UCLA head coach Cori Close admitted that the team may not have played up to the program’s standard today.
But, it didn’t matter.
It was an emotion-filled day from before tip-off until well after the final buzzer.
That’s because the UCLA women’s basketball team has won the first regular season title in the history of the program as .
As far as the game itself goes, it was another case of the game being over almost as quickly as it started. In the first two minutes and seven seconds, the Bruins jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead on a pair of Gabriela Jaquez baskets which sandwiched a Lauren Betts bucket and a pair of free throws by Gianna Kneepkens.
On multiple occasions, it looked like Wisconsin might actually be able to get back into it. In the second quarter, they cut the lead to eight points four times. The fourth time that happened, Kiki Rice responded by nailing a three to put UCLA ahead by 11 with 2:24 to go in the half. Rice would add a free throw before the break and the Bruins led 41-29 as the teams went into the locker rooms.
When the third quarter began, Wisconsin came out and went on a 5-0 run to cut the Bruin lead to seven. But Betts and Jaquez answered the bell and quickly pushed the lead back to 13.
With 2:25 to go in the third, Gianna Kneepkens hit a three which gave UCLA a 61-42 lead. That shot would prove to be the game-winner in this one.
UCLA stretched the lead to 21 with 1:43 left in the third on a three-pointer by Angela Dugalić for the Bruins’ biggest lead of the game. Unfortunately, Wisconsin managed to trim it by five on a layup by Gift Uchenna and a three by Kyrah Daniels before the quarter came to an end. After three, the Bruins were up, 65-49.
While Wisconsin did manage to cut the lead to 11 with 3:10 left in the game, the Bruins finished the game strong with a 9-0 run to end the game and send the Badgers home with the their eighth straight loss.
Betts led all scorers with 19 points as Wisconsin really had no way of stopping her. She also grabbed 14 boards to record another double-double. Jaquez was right behind her with 17 points. Rice and Kneepkens added 13 a piece and Dugalić scored ten as well.
After the game, bedlam ensued as the Bruins were presented with the Big Ten regular season trophy and they took it around Pauley to thank the fans.
Of course, the regular season isn’t done quite yet.
UCLA still has one game remaining next Sunday when the Bruins travel across town to face rival Southern Cal at the Galen Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1. After that, it’s off to Indianapolis where they will look to repeat as Big Ten Tournament champs.
Go Bruins!!!
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.