By JILL PAINTER LOPEZ The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The UCLA women’s basketball team got a career effort from a reserve on a night when a key player returned to the lineup.
Gabriela Jaquez had 21 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, Kiki Rice scored 20 points and the ninth-ranked Bruins defeated Arizona, 66-58, on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion as Lauren Betts returned to the lineup after a four-game absence.
Rice shot 9 for 12 from the field and scored 10 of her points in the first quarter, while Jaquez scored 10 points in the third quarter. Rice shot 75% but UCLA’s four other starters were a combined 4 for 24. Jaquez was 8 for 15 shooting off the bench.
UCLA (18-4 overall, 7-4 Pac-12) led 31-28 at halftime and 48-43 after three quarters and always seemed to have an answer for Arizona (12-11, 4-7).
“We were doing good taking advantage of what was given to us,” Rice said. “I think we had really good ball movement and we recognized who the hot hand was and our defense was leading to offense. And a lot of that was getting those easy reads and lead to points.”
The Bruins went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter to take a 40-32 lead. When Arizona pulled within three points at 52-49 in the fourth, the Bruins went on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 59-49.
Betts returned to the lineup after missing time for an undisclosed medical reason. The Bruins were 2-2 without the 6-foot-7 center, who didn’t start Friday but entered the game in the first quarter.
Betts, who has the nation’s best field-goal percentage at 68.3% and was averaging more than 15 points per game, scored her first basket in her return on a 6-footer off the glass in the second quarter and finished with six points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots in 27 minutes.
UCLA had a short bench with Angela Dugalic and Lina Sontag playing in the women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Brazil this weekend. Dugalic is playing for Serbia and Sontag for Germany.
“It’s huge,” UCLA coach Cori Close said of Betts’ return. “Obviously even more huge because we’re missing Lina and Angela.
“I think more than that is her spirit. Everyone was talking about that in practice yesterday. It’s not that she’s just a really good player, it’s her energy and spirit for the sake of the team and that was really missed. We’re thrilled to have her back.”
The Bruins, who are third in the country in offensive rebound percentage, had 18 offensive rebounds with Betts grabbing four of them.
Esmery Martinez scored 15 points for Arizona, which was without four players. Kailyn Gilbert added 14 points.
The Wildcats had 20 turnovers.
“Offensive rebounds and turnovers really hurt us,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes said. “We had a lot of turnovers in the third quarter that led to transition baskets and those are daggers.”
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: The Wildcats are hanging tough in the middle of the pack in the top-heavy Pac-12. If they can make the NCAA Tournament – and the conference will undoubtedly send many teams – the high level of competition should prove beneficial.
UCLA: The outlook looks bright with Betts back.
UP NEXT
UCLA hosts Arizona State on Sunday at noon.
