Minnesota gives UCLA women scare before program record 20th double-digit win in a row
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The UCLA women’s basketball team continues to seek consistency but, despite a slow start, its depth powered a dominant late-game performance to extend its undefeated streak.
The No. 1 Bruins (21-0, 9-0 Big Ten) faced a tough test as Minnesota trailed by five at the half and didn’t fade until the Bruins pulled away in the final quarter on the way to a 79-53 Big Ten victory at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday.
It was UCLA’s 20th consecutive double-digit victory, the longest streak in program history.
On a day when the offense struggled — particularly with National Player of the Year candidate Lauren Betts being held to a season-low six points — it was the supporting cast that lifted the Bruins.
Elina Aarinsalo led UCLA scorers with 15 points on six-of-10 shooting off the bench. She was one of three Bruins in double figures, alongside Kiki Rice (14) and Londynn Jones (13).
“Our depth and our bench, over the course of the entire season, have been such a separator,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “If one of our starters is having a tough night in any way, shape or form, there’s always someone capable of stepping in.”
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles records her second perfect 10 of the season and her 10th as a Bruin to lift No. 6 UCLA over No. 5 Michigan State.
It was Aarinsalo, the Swedish freshman, who stepped up with her best scoring effort since the Bruins knocked off South Carolina in November.
Aarnisalo logged a team-high 31 minutes while contributing five rebounds and two assists, with just one turnover. She credits her individual work with the assistant coaches and film study for helping her stay aggressive, something she felt was evident against Minnesota.
Close said she has been impressed with the growth of the young guard.
“Elina’s IQ is elite,” Close said. “Her understanding of purpose is elite — selflessness, work ethic — and she has earned the right, through work done in the dark, to shine when she gets the opportunity in the light.”
The opportunities increased because Minnesota’s goal was to “throw extra defenders” at Betts, according to coach Dawn Plitzuweit. The Gophers (18-5, 6-5) frustrated Betts in the post with physical defense, frequently sending double-, triple- and even quadruple-teams her way.
They held her to two points in the second half, but Betts countered by dishing a game-high 11 assists.
With Tyler Bilodeau back from injury and Aday Mara continuing to be a difference-maker on the court, UCLA men’s basketball defeated Oregon for a statement win.
“You’re not big enough to influence her passing a lot of times,” Plitzuweit said. “We tried to make it tight and as difficult as possible out there, but again, she played great and made a lot of good decisions.”
Betts also contributed six rebounds and did make three of her five field-goal attempts.
“Lauren stepped up to the challenge. … To say, you know what they’re going to do, I’m just going to be a facilitator for my team,” Close said. “It speaks volumes to how dominant she’s been, that they felt they needed to do that and how selfless she is to be able to just facilitate.”
Early in the game, UCLA struggled to find rhythm on both ends of the floor, with lapses in communication plaguing much of the first half. The Bruins committed 10 turnovers, shot 38.7% and went into the locker room ahead 33-28.
Gabriela Jaquez got the Bruins going in the third quarter with seven points that fueled a run to put UCLA ahead by double figures for the first time, 51-38. A 10-0 run in the fourth quarter put the visitors away.
The Bruins entered the game ranked third in the nation in defensive field goal percentage — holding opponents to 35% — and continued that trend as the Gophers shot 39.7%.
Guard Amaya Battle had challenged UCLA’s defense early, pouring in 17 of the Gophers’ 28 first-half points. The Bruins made key adjustments in the second half, applying more ball pressure on Battle, which changed the dynamics of the visitors’ offense.
Rice and Jones took turns ball-hawking Battle, who was held to four points in the second half, with Jones getting two steals as UCLA finished with 21 points off turnovers.
“Londynn was playing so really good defense on her, taking that challenge for a while, and then for a little bit, I took that challenge,” Rice said. “That’s one of the greatest things about our teams, the versatility of defensive bodies that you can put on their guards.”
As UCLA looks ahead to a marquee matchup against No. 8 Ohio State on Wednesday night, Close emphasized the need to be more aggressive early in games.
“Ohio State will force us to choose — will you be disciplined enough to create really difficult shots?” Close said. “If we do that, we’ll be all right. But if we didn’t learn from today and we don’t carry those things over, that’s a team that will make you pay.”
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