By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES — No Lauren Betts. No problem.
Janiah Barker had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds and top-ranked UCLA led throughout its 69-37 victory over Cal Poly on Monday night at Pauley Pavilion, despite the absence of its leading scorer and rebounder.
Londynn Jones and Angela Dugalic also scored 12 points in UCLA’s first home game since it took over the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll on Nov. 25.
Timea Gardiner added 11 points for the Bruins (11-0), who have started 11-0 for the second straight season and the third time in Coach Cori Close’s 14 seasons in Westwood.
Betts sat out as a precaution. The junior center, third in the Big Ten in scoring at 19.8 points per game, is dealing with a lower leg injury.
Annika Shah’s 3-pointer pulled the Mustangs within 25-16 early in the second quarter before the Bruins went on 12-2 run that included a pair of 3-pointers by Dugalic.
Mary Carter scored 11 points for Cal Poly (4-6), which has dropped four of its last five and was hammered, 90-35, by No. 7 USC on Nov. 9 at the Galen Center.
The Mustangs shot 25.9% from the field (14 for 54) and were 2 for 15 in the fourth quarter.
UCLA PART OF 2025 ROUND-ROBIN EVENT
UCLA, South Carolina, Duke and Texas will play in a round-robin tournament in Las Vegas next year during Thanksgiving week.
The Players Era Women’s Championship will allow the opportunity for athletes on each team to engage in at least $1 million of NIL activities with the title group and sponsors.
“Players Era is creating the first-ever tentpole women’s college basketball MTE with an unbelievably loaded field and fascinating storylines, early season matchups that are sure to set the tone for the rest of the season,” Players ERA CEO Seth Berger said. “Our women’s championship includes the same level of guaranteed NIL opportunities for the players as the men’s championship.”
The event will coincide with the the men’s Players Era Festival that debuted at MGM Grand Garden Arena last month. Oregon won the men’s championship by topping Alabama, 83-81.
Each of the women’s teams will play the other three teams.
The four teams are currently in the top 10 of the poll, with UCLA and South Carolina ranked 1-2. Texas is sixth and Duke is ninth. The Bruins topped the Gamecocks in November to end the defending champions’ 43-game winning streak.
“As a program striving to consistently compete at a championship level, it’s essential to measure ourselves against the best,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “We’re excited for a rematch with South Carolina and the opportunity to compete against other exceptional programs. This will be the premier out-of-conference tournament with a national audience to boot. It is a great honor to be included in this elite event.”
In addition to its game against UCLA, South Carolina faced Duke already this season and will play Texas during conference play as the Longhorns moved to the SEC this year.
“We’re excited to be among the first women’s teams invited to play in the Players Era Women’s Championship,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “This innovative event brings together everything we’re looking for – quality games early in the season, a great location for fans to come and enjoy, and NIL opportunities for our players.”
UP NEXT
UCLA faces Creighton on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Basketball Classic in San Francisco.
AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this story.