SAN FRANCISCO — Kiki Rice delivered a standout performance with 20 points as No. 1 UCLA surged to a commanding 70-41 victory over Creighton during the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic on Friday evening. This win came despite the absence of their star player, Lauren Betts.

Angela Dugalic made a significant impact as well, contributing 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, marking her second double-double of the season for the Bruins, who now hold a record of 12-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten Conference. UCLA’s tenacious defense significantly hindered the shooting efforts of Creighton’s top players.

Morgan Maly led the Bluejays with 15 points, but this loss ended their eight-game winning streak, moving their record to 9-3 and 1-0 in the Big East. The absence of the 6-foot-7 Betts, who is sidelined due to a leg injury sustained against Long Beach State on December 14, was felt heavily; she is the team’s leading scorer averaging 19.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Creighton’s leading scorer, Lauren Jensen, struggled significantly, managing only four points on 2-of-15 shooting after entering the match with an impressive average of 19.1 points per game.

Key observations highlighted that Creighton struggled right from the start, going just 1 for 13 in the first quarter and missing all five of their three-point attempts, which left them trailing rapidly. They ultimately ended their night shooting 5 of 22 from beyond the arc. Notably, this defeat marks Creighton’s fourth consecutive loss to the Bruins, having fallen 67-63 in last season’s NCAA tournament.

For UCLA, Rice showcased her efficiency by shooting 8 for 13, along with contributing five rebounds and four assists to the team’s effort. Freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo also continued to impress, increasing her total assists to a leading 63 in her first 12 collegiate games.

A pivotal moment in the game was when UCLA connected on 11 of 22 attempts in the first quarter and drained 4 of 6 from three-point range, establishing a dominating 26-4 lead.

In a decisive statistical highlight, UCLA generated a remarkable 59-26 advantage in rebounding throughout the game, including a 29-12 margin in the first half that allowed them to take a 42-23 lead at halftime. Janiah Barker was instrumental in this effort, pulling down 11 rebounds.

Looking ahead, UCLA will next host Nebraska on December 29, while Creighton is set to visit St. John’s on December 28.