Ladies's Faculty Hoops Highlight: Why UCLA Has a Maintain on the Large Ten Title Race

UCLA has the Large Ten inside its grasp. With 5 video games remaining, the No. 2-ranked Bruins are closing in on this system’s first regular-season title since becoming a member of the convention again in 2024. They practically let it slip away in opposition to Michigan on Sunday. After holding a snug 11-point lead with 2:24 remaining, the Wolverines went on a 12-4 run. Michigan guard Syla Swords buried a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to chop the deficit to 3, then missed a possible game-tying shot moments later, which sealed the 69-66 win for the Bruins. The win marked UCLA’s seventeenth straight victory, with its final loss coming in opposition to No. 4 Texas on Nov. 26. It was additionally the Bruins’ ninth win over an AP High 25 staff this season, probably the most of any staff within the nation. Sunday’s outcome gave UCLA a two-game lead within the Large Ten standings over Michigan and No. 9 Ohio State, whereas snapping the Wolverines’ program-best nine-game convention successful streak. Lauren Betts, UCLA’s 6-foot-7 heart, dominated (as she typically does) with 16 factors, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks. Guard Kiki Rice led the Bruins with 20 factors and two steals. Each gamers are on the Wood Award mid-season prime 25 listing. The Bruins are well-rounded, bodily and can little doubt be one of many extra harmful groups within the Large Ten and NCAA tournaments. Betts and Rice mix to common 31.5 factors and 14.6 rebounds per recreation, making the teammates fairly the menacing duo — and it’s not simply them. Towards Michigan, for instance, Bruins guards Gabriela Jaquez scored 13 factors and Gianna Kneepkens added 12 within the win. If this staff goes to make a run this March, nonetheless, it has a number of areas to enhance upon. The Bruins struggled from distance in opposition to the Wolverines, going simply 3-for-13 from deep. In addition they had 13 turnovers and let up within the fourth quarter, which practically value them the win. UCLA has to go again to the state of Michigan this week when it performs No. 12 Michigan State in East Lansing on Wednesday night time (8 p.m. ET). The Bruins can’t be happy with how they completed Sunday’s recreation, although, so regulate how this staff responds in opposition to the Spartans and past.



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