Kiki Rice scored 20 points as No. 1 UCLA dominated Creighton, securing a decisive 70-41 victory during the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic on Friday night, even in the absence of their star player, Lauren Betts.
Angela Dugalic contributed significantly with 13 points and 14 rebounds, marking her second double-double of the season for the Bruins (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten). Their relentless defense disrupted Creighton’s shooting rhythm, forcing their top scorers into tough situations.
Morgan Maly led the Bluejays (9-3, 1-0 Big East) with 15 points, but the team’s impressive eight-game winning streak came to an end.
The absence of the 6-foot-7 Betts, who missed her second consecutive game due to a leg injury sustained against Long Beach State on Dec. 14, was felt. She is the team’s leading scorer with averages of 19.8 points and 10.0 rebounds.
Creighton’s leading scorer, Lauren Jensen, struggled significantly, finishing with only four points on 2-of-15 shooting after entering the game with an average of 19.1 points.
Takeaways
Creighton: The Bluejays faced a tough start, shooting just 1 for 13 in the first quarter and missing all five of their three-point attempts, which set them back early. They finished the game with a disappointing 5 of 22 from beyond the arc. This loss marks their fourth consecutive defeat to UCLA, including a narrow 67-63 loss in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
UCLA: Rice showcased her scoring ability by shooting 8 for 13 from the field, along with five rebounds and four assists. Freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo continued to impress, boosting her team-leading assists total to 63 in just 12 games.
Key moment
UCLA’s strong start was evident as they shot 11 for 22 in the opening quarter and hit 4 of 6 from three-point range, quickly establishing a commanding 26-4 lead.
Key stat
UCLA dominated the boards with a remarkable 59-26 rebounding advantage, including a 29-12 lead in the first half, which contributed to their 42-23 lead at halftime. Janiah Barker stood out with 11 rebounds.
Up next
UCLA will face Nebraska at home on December 29, while Creighton will travel to take on St. John’s on December 28.
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