No. 3 UCLA Beats San Diego State at Honda Center on Opening Night time, 77-53

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The No. 3 UCLA girls’s basketball staff defeated San Diego State 77-53 on opening night time in Anaheim, Calif., on the Honda Center on Monday. The Bruins by no means trailed within the sport.

Senior Lauren Betts had an environment friendly begin to her senior marketing campaign, recording 21 factors on 9-of-12 capturing and 4 rebounds in UCLA’s (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) win over the Aztecs (0-1, 0-0 Mountain West).

Three different Bruins scored in double figures (Jaquez – 15, Leger-Walker – 12, Rice – 10), with senior Gabriela Jaquez incomes the staff’s first double-double of the season. Jaquez completed Monday’s win with 11 rebounds, 4 of which got here on the offensive glass.

UCLA virtually doubled the Aztecs’ complete in rebounds, grabbing 49 in comparison with SDSU’s 25. The Bruins additionally tripled the Aztecs in blocks, swatting 9 photographs to San Diego State’s three. UCLA dominated the sport in paint factors, 48-20, and shot a stellar 86 % from the free-throw line. The Aztecs transformed simply one in every of their three free throws within the sport.

The Bruins began with a bang, starting the sport with eight-straight factors within the paint to earn an 8-0 lead. After an Aztec timeout, the Bruins barely misplaced rhythm, giving up two back-to-back 3-pointers and happening a three-minute scoreless drought. Betts and Leger-Walker each completed the quarter going 2-for-5 with 4 factors to steer the staff. Leger-Walker additionally recorded two steals within the first quarter.

https://twitter.com/UCLAWBB/status/1985546898581623089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
 
UCLA dominated the second quarter, beginning with Betts going an ideal 3-for-3 to report seven factors. Jaquez shined within the second, gathering 4 factors, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists within the quarter, which included an offensive rebound she snagged and handed to Betts for a rating within the paint to begin the quarter.  Graduate scholar Gianna Kneepkens confirmed she may carry out on each ends of the court docket; she blocked a 3-point shot try and raced to the opposite facet of the court docket, making a driving layup assisted by Kiki Rice. Redshirt-sophomore Amanda Muse added to the enjoyable a minute later, gathering her personal rebound to make a second-chance layup whereas drawing the foul.
 

https://twitter.com/UCLAWBB/status/1985550666589171839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
 
The Bruins held a controlling lead of 37-22 on the half.
 
UCLA solely furthered its lead within the third quarter. Another trio of discipline targets from Betts added eight extra factors to the board. Jaquez and Betts ending the quarter capturing an ideal 3-for-3; Jaquez had seven factors and one other rebound. After beginning the quarter off on a 7-2 run out of the gate, the Bruins compelled the Aztecs to name a timeout. UCLA continued to construct on the offensive momentum after the timeout, using its ball motion and protection to go on a 16-0 run; the Bruins shot 66.7 % from the sector and 50 % from 3-point vary within the quarter. The Bruins completed the quarter with 21 factors, pushing the sport’s result in 58-38.
 

https://twitter.com/UCLAWBB/status/1985557962123857958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
 
The Bruins began the fourth quarter off with ease, with Leger-Walker discovering Betts contained in the paint, just for Betts to kick it out to Freshman Lena Bilić for a fast 3-pointer.
 

https://twitter.com/UCLAWBB/status/1985563244476461526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
 
In the ultimate three minutes of motion, graduate scholar Angela Dugalić related on her first 3-pointer of the night time, giving Rice her fifth help of the sport. Rice continued to dominate, scoring two second-chance layups assisted by Muse.
 
The Bruins outscored the Aztecs 40-31 within the second half, capturing 62.5 % in comparison with their 35.3 %. UCLA additionally recorded 4 blocks within the second half to the Aztecs’ zero because the Bruins captured the opening night time win.
 
UP NEXT: vs. UC Santa Barbara (Nov. 6)
UCLA Women’s Basketball faces off in opposition to UC Santa Barbara at Pauley Pavilion offered by Wescom Financial at 11:30 a.m. PST on Nov. 6.