The UCLA Bruins pushed their season-opening win streak to seven games after defeating Fresno State 97-41 on Saturday, as the #1 Bruins continue to impress with only one of their wins coming by single digits.
It was business as usual for UCLA in their second game in the 2024 Rainbow Wahine Showdown against the Bulldogs, dropping 97 points for the second straight game, the Bruins’ fourth game this year with at least 90 points.
UCLA jumped in front 29-17 after the first quarter but in the second quarter, the Bruins turned off Fresno State’s faucet, as the Bulldogs’ offense experienced a dry spell, scoring only six points in the second period. Things didn’t improve too much for Fresno in the second half, scoring just 18 total points after halftime.
Junior center Lauren Betts etched her sixth double-double of the season, with 20 points and 12 rebounds. It wasn’t her most efficient game, with four turnovers and one assist while shooting 9-16 from the field. Junior guard Gabriela Jaquez continued her strong play off of the bench with 15 points on 7-9 shooting, for her third straight game in double-figures.
Junior guard Kiki Rice had her best game of the season, with the Wooden Award Watchlist member posting a season-high 15 points in just her fourth game of the season after coming back from a shoulder injury. Rice played 24 minutes and made six of her nine shots while adding six assists and three steals.
The Bruins’ offense only problem on Saturday came at the free throw line, going 8-16 from the charity stripe, shooting at a higher percentage from the field (56%) than they did at the line.
UCLA will end their Rainbow Wahine Showdown action on Sunday against host school Hawaii.