LONG BEACH, California – In an intense matchup, Lauren Betts delivered an impressive performance with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and a remarkable seven blocks, which tied a school record, helping the top-ranked UCLA Bruins secure an 83-67 victory against Penn State. The game was relocated to Long Beach State due to the devastating wildfires that have significantly impacted the Los Angeles region.
UCLA’s offense saw contributions from Angela Dugalic, who added 11 points, while both Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez chipped in with 10 points each. This victory marked a remarkable achievement for UCLA, as they maintained an undefeated record of 17-0 overall and 6-0 within the Big Ten Conference, boasting the best start in the school’s history.
On the other side, Penn State’s Gabby Elliott and Talayah Walker each scored 17 points, but the team has struggled recently with only one win in their last ten games, falling to a 9-9 record with a conference record of 0-7. Despite trailing by as much as 23 points early in the second half, the Lady Lions made a push, closing the gap to 69-62 with just over five minutes left. However, UCLA’s defense held strong, denying Penn State any scores in the final 3:27 of the game.
The encounter was shifted to Long Beach State out of caution due to wildfires that, tragically, have taken the lives of at least 25 people and caused extensive damage to properties in the region. This contest was UCLA’s first since a January 7 matchup, as Northwestern had opted not to travel for games against UCLA and No. 4 Southern California amidst the hazardous conditions.
Notable takeaways from the game include Penn State’s struggle with turnovers; they committed 15, enabling UCLA to capitalize and score 20 points off those mistakes, which ultimately cost them the opportunity for an upset. Meanwhile, despite being known for their shooting prowess, the Bruins had a lackluster evening from beyond the arc, connecting on just 7 of 25 attempts (28%) from three-point range.
A critical moment came as UCLA ended the first half with a dominant 16-3 run, leveraging Penn State’s errors and pushing the pace to score efficiently around the rim. In terms of statistical performance, UCLA recorded 27 assists on their 35 made baskets; six different players contributed at least three assists, with Elina Aarnisalo leading that category with six.
Looking ahead, Penn State will host No. 9 Ohio State this Sunday, while UCLA is set to compete against Baylor in the Coretta Scott King Classic, taking place in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday.
