LOS ANGELES — The UCLA women’s basketball team collected itself to have a strong second half and beat Minnesota 79-53 on Sunday afternoon, and extend its unbeaten streak to 21 games.
The No. 1 Bruins remain the last unbeaten team in the nation and continue their program-best start. They have now held the top spot in the AP rankings for 10 straight weeks.
Elina Aarnisalo led UCLA with 15 points — the most she’s scored since Nov. 12 against Pepperdine. Kiki Rice added 14 points and Londynn Jones had 13 points.
Lauren Betts was limited to six points but had 11 assists as UCLA (21-0 overall, 9-0 Big Ten) switched to an inside-out approach on the second half.
Minnesota (18-5, 6-5) presented a difficult defensive challenge with its size and physical play — triple-teaming Betts and creating a one-on-one impasse with anyone else headed toward the net.
Betts, a 6-foot-7 center, kicked out to Gabriela Jaquez for a 3-pointer that gave the Bruins a 10-point advantage 10 seconds into the third quarter. Timea Gardiner made another 3-pointer as UCLA continued to attack from the perimeter.
The Bruins struggled to connect with each other to assemble scoring plays in the first half but went into the locker room with a 33-28 advantage.
The Bruins created turnovers when they were needed and made the most of the opportunities. Angela Dugalić (eight rebounds) snatched a Minnesota pass and dished to Jones, who sank a 3-pointer on the fast break.
Jones shot 50% in the game and 50% from 3-point range.
UCLA attempted 19 shots from the perimeter in the first half and made six of them as the two teams battled in the post. Sophie Hart, Minnesota’s 6-foot-5 big, matched up most often with Betts on the inside and limited her to two points in the opening half.
Amaya Battle was responsible for 11 of the Golden Gophers’ 14 points in the first half but was held to four points in the second half. She ended the game with 21 points.
The Bruins were the ones playing fearlessly at the end of the game, though. Visibly frustrated by some calls that didn’t go their way, they aggressively drove to the paint for layups and defensive plays.
Jones grabbed a steal and pulled up for a jump shot, then had a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with an assist from Aarnisalo for a statement play with 2:16 left in the game.
UCLA plays No. 8 Ohio State on Wednesday at Pauley Pavilion.
More to come on this story.