Kiki Rice, Lauren Betts power No. 3 UCLA past Gophers 76-58

On Jan. 11, a ranked women’s basketball team from Los Angeles entered Williams Arena and left with a defeat as the Gophers upset No. 21 USC 63-62.

Three days later, on Jan. 14, another ranked team from Los Angeles entered the Barn. This time, No. 3 UCLA proved it was more up to the task than their crosstown rival Trojans. The Bruins left Minneapolis with a 76-58 victory over the Gophers.

Senior point guard Kiki Rice scored 25 points on her 22^nd birthday and 6-7 senior center Lauren Betts had 17 points and 10 rebounds as UCLA (16-1, 6-0 Big Ten) won its 10^th consecutive game. Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez added 12 points for the Bruins.

Senior guard Amaya Battle led the Gophers (12-5, 3-3) with 16 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Mara Braun scored 15 points and junior guard Grace Grocholski contributed nine in front of an announced crowd of 4,374.

“Our young ladies played with a great deal of intensity,” Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “Our effort was outstanding, but our execution wasn’t as good as it needed to be.”

How it happened

The Gophers took leads of 5-0 and 7-2 in the game’s first 1:57 as Grocholski hit a three-pointer and Battle sank two jumpers. UCLA, a team that coach Cori Close believes could have six players selected in this year’s WNBA draft, responded with an 11-2 run to take an 13-7 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter. Six points during the Bruins’ run came on fast breaks and two came after a Gophers turnover. The lead grew to 15-7 before Grocholski scored inside with 59 seconds left in the quarter. The first quarter finished with UCLA leading 17-9.

Minnesota went 4-for-14 from the field in the first quarter while UCLA was 7-for-9. Six turnovers by the Bruins helped keep the Gophers’ deficit to single digits.

UCLA stretched the lead to 34-24 at halftime, closing with a 7-4 run. The Bruins were 13-for-18 from the field in the first half, while Minnesota was 11-for-32.

The second half saw the Bruins outscore the Gophers 42-34 with Rice and Betts each contributing 13 points.

“They had a lot of size, one through five,” Braun said. “They’ve got big guards, and obviously a 6-7 presence in the post. So, it’s tough. It was hard for us when our offense was stagnant, not moving, screening, using our screens.”

BOXSCORE: No. 3 UCLA 76, Gophers women 58

Plitzuweit lamented the Gophers missing on the few chances they had to string together runs of more than four points.

“What you learn from it is you’re playing against one of the best teams in the country, a national championship contender, that’s how good they are,” Plitzuweit said. “So, you can’t have many of those moments.”

What it means

The Gophers got off to a quick start against one of the better teams in the country but their 34.4% field-goal percentage in the first half enabled UCLA to take a 10-point lead at the break. Minnesota has played four ranked teams this season and is 1-3. The Gophers lost 100-99 in double overtime to No. 7 Maryland on Dec. 7 and 70-60 at No. 9 Michigan on Jan. 5 before beating USC. They have games remaining against No. 11 Iowa, No. 24 Nebraska, No. 14 Ohio State, No. 15 Michigan State and No. 25 Illinois.

Turning point

MVP

Rice was the sparkplug for the Bruins throughout the game, scoring 25 points on 8-for-9 field-goal shooting. She also had five assists, four rebounds, three steals and three turnovers.

“She was comfortable all game,” Braun said, “and I think she was able to pick us apart that way.”

Key Stat

6:44: Time remaining in the game when the Gophers went to the free-throw line for the first time. UCLA was called for nine fouls through the first three quarters and eight in the fourth. Minnesota went 4-for-6 from the line.

UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens, a Duluth Marshall graduate and transfer from Utah, had four points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals. She also drew praise from her coach.

“We would not be in the position we’re in right now if she hadn’t chosen to join our program,” Close said. “And she has been so impactful in how she plays and her abilities on the court, but also in the chemistry she’s created off the court with our players.”

Up next

The Gophers embark on a trip to the Pacific Northwest, facing Washington (5 p.m. Jan. 18, BTN) and Oregon (8 p.m. Jan. 21, BIG+).