INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2-seed UCLA Women’s Basketball team (28-2, 16-2 Big Ten) won its inaugural game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament over No. 10-seed Nebraska at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday evening, 85-74.
The junior duo of Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez combined for 51 points and 22 rebounds in the win over the Huskers (21-11, 10-8 Big Ten).
Betts earned her fourth-straight double-double, finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks, five assists and three steals. Jaquez finished with a season-high 23 points alongside nine rebounds.
Junior Kiki Rice also finished in double figures, recording 14 points and nine assists.
The Bruins jumped ahead in the first quarter, putting themselves up 27-17 over the Huskers. Jaquez got going quickly, scoring seven points in the first three minutes of play and finishing the quarter with 10 points. Betts added six points on 3-for-3 shooting alongside three assists and two rebounds while Rice recorded three points and three assists. Janiah Barker also notched four points and two assists, including a dime to Angela Dugalić who finished with a three-point play.
Thread the needle for an ANGE-OOOOOOONNNNNNNEEEEEEE ???
??: Big Ten Network#GoBruins | @janiah_barker0 x @AngelaDugalic pic.twitter.com/roWIrWQtSL
— UCLA Women’s Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 7, 2025
UCLA was outscored 22-14 by Nebraska in the second quarter but managed to maintain its lead going into halftime. Betts was elite on both sides of the ball, finishing the second frame with seven points, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Despite her effort, UCLA struggled throughout the second quarter and was held without a made field goal for over seven minutes. Betts was dynamic in the final seconds of the frame, hitting a layup and blocking a Nebraska shot to finish the half up 41-39.
The Bruins fought through the third quarter to finish the frame up 62-55 on the Huskers. Betts recorded seven points, five rebounds, and three blocks to earn her 17th double-double of the season in only three quarters. Two of Betts’ blocks came on back-to-back possessions within only two seconds of play. Kiki Rice also finished the quarter with seven points alongside three assists. Jaquez hit a three and Dugalić scored off of a reverse layup to contribute to UCLA’s 21 points in the third quarter.
Why would you try that? DPOY has 6? blocks against the Huskers after swatting 2? on this possession!
??: Big Ten Network#GoBruins | @laurenbetts12 pic.twitter.com/KNsW00C5bv
— UCLA Women’s Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 8, 2025
UCLA was effective throughout the fourth quarter to secure their double-digit win. Betts was the team’s leading scorer with eight points, two rebounds, two assists, and a block. Jaquez scored six points in the quarter on 3-4 shooting, and Rice added four points. Gardiner hit a big three-pointer off of an assist from Jaquez to contribute to UCLA’s 13-3 run during the final frame.
UP NEXT – Big Ten Tournament Semifinal (Mar. 8)
The Bruins will advance to the semifinal round of the Big Ten tournament to face the winner of the No. 11-seed Iowa/No. 3-seed Ohio State quarterfinal game on Saturday, Mar. 8. The game will tip off at 2:30 PST and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
