LOS ANGELES — In a strong home opener for the Big Ten, Lauren Betts made a significant impact upon her return, scoring 21 points and leading top-ranked UCLA to a decisive 91-54 victory over Nebraska on Sunday. Betts, who had to sit out two games due to a leg injury sustained on December 14 against Long Beach State, made an impressive comeback. In addition to her points, she contributed eight rebounds as the Bruins (13-0, 2-0 Big Ten) dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with a staggering 48-18 advantage.
Kiki Rice also showcased her talent, finishing with 18 points in a flawless performance, hitting all eight of her attempts from the field and both of her free throws. In addition to her scoring, Rice added six rebounds and four steals before exiting the game with 4:14 left on the clock. This win marked a milestone for head coach Cori Close, as it was her 300th victory at UCLA; she now holds a record of 300-140 in her 14 years with the program.
Amiah Hargrove stood out for Nebraska (10-3, 1-1), leading her team with 12 points, while Callin Hake contributed nine. Despite the defeat, the Cornhuskers initially kept the game competitive, leading by a point during the second quarter. However, foul trouble plagued them as six players finished with three or more fouls. The team struggled offensively in the second half, managing only 24 points overall.
For the Bruins, this game was their first in nine days, and while they emerged victorious, they displayed periods of sloppy play. They will need to focus on reducing their turnover count, which stood at 26, and improving their accuracy from beyond the arc, where they shot just 4 of 17 before their next matchup with No. 23 Michigan.
The turning point of the game came in the third quarter, where UCLA pulled away after holding a 37-30 lead at halftime. The Bruins dominated this period, outscoring the Cornhuskers 31-13 and limiting Nebraska to just four field goals. Rice initiated the scoring for UCLA with the first five points of the quarter, while both Betts and Janiah Barker contributed six points each.
A critical statistic from the game was Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski, a key player for the Cornhuskers who had been averaging team-leading figures of 15 points and 8.3 rebounds. In this contest, she was held to just three points and two rebounds, shooting a mere 1 of 8, and also accrued four fouls.
Looking ahead, Nebraska is set to visit JuJu Watkins and No. 4 USC, while UCLA will host No. 23 Michigan on Wednesday in what promises to be an exciting matchup.
