Lauren Betts, No. 2 UCLA overpower No. 13 Michigan State
Lauren Betts had 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists and No. 2 UCLA pushed its winning streak to 18 games by thumping No. 13 Michigan State, 86-63, on Wednesday night.
Kiki Rice finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for the Bruins (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten). Gabriela Jaquez added 13 points, all in the first half, and Gianni Kneepkens chipped in 12.
UCLA now has nine wins over ranked opponents, six in conference play.
Rashunda Jones scored 15 points and Emma Shumate had 12 for the Spartans (20-5, 9-5), who have dropped three of their last four games. Grace VanSlooten and Kennedy Blair, the team’s top scorers entering the game, were held to a combined 18 points on 6-for-25 shooting.
UCLA, which led by 31 points, outscored Michigan State 56-22 in the paint and had a 48-28 rebounding advantage.
Their matchup last season at Pauley Pavilion wasn’t decided until late in the game, when the Bruins (without an injured Betts) pulled out a 75-69 victory. Betts missed that game with a foot injury but the Spartans couldn’t avoid her imposing 6-foot-7 presence this time.
Coming off a hotly contested 69-66 victory over No. 8 Michigan on Sunday, the Bruins were in total control from the start.
UCLA scored on its six first possessions while powering to a 44-20 halftime lead, capped by a Jaquez 3-pointer. Betts had 13 points by the break, while the Spartans were unable to get anything going in half-court sets or transition.
UCLA shot 56% from the field (35 for 62) while holding the Spartans to 31% (21 for 68), though the Bruins had 18 turnovers.
Michigan State hasn’t defeated a top-two team at home since 2005.
UP NEXT
UCLA begins a three-game homestand against Indiana on Sunday at noon.