MADISON, Wis. — The rematch can officially take center stage for the UCLA women’s basketball team.
Lauren Betts had 26 points and 10 rebounds and the second-ranked Bruins routed Wisconsin, 91-61, on Wednesday night to set up a showdown with No. 4 USC for the Big Ten title this weekend.
UCLA (28-1 overall, 16-1 Big Ten) moved into a first-place tie with USC (26-2, 16-1) heading into the regular-season finale Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion against the Trojans, who handed the Bruins their only defeat, 71-60 earlier this month at the Galen Center.
Betts made 11 of her 12 shots from the field and all four of her free throws for her 15th double-double of the season. Timea Gardner added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting (4 for 6 from 3-point range) and 10 rebounds. Londynn Jones added 13 points, shooting 3 for 8 from 3-point range on a night when the Bruins were 10 for 25 (40%) from behind the arc.
After edging Iowa, 67-65, on Sunday to open the two-game trip, the Bruins avoided looking past Wisconsin. They made six of seven shots during a 12-2 run midway through the first quarter to take a 20-9 lead. UCLA shot 10 for 18 in the first period and held a 10-point lead (22-12) when it was over.
Ronnie Porter hit two free throws to pull the Badgers within 27-19 in the second, but UCLA responded with an 8-0 run and the Bruins held a 17-point lead at halftime.
Wisconsin missed its first seven shots of the third quarter as UCLA extended its lead to 55-30 midway through the period. The Bruins led 70-40 entering the final period.
The Bruins dominated the Badgers inside and out, outscoring their hosts 52-32 in the paint and 30-12 from 3-point range. UCLA shot 55% (37 for 67) from the field while holding Wisconsin to 38% (23 for 60).
Serah Williams had 22 points and Porter scored 13 for Wisconsin (13-15, 4-13), which is trying to hang on to a spot in the 15-team Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers are in 14th place, 1½ games ahead of Purdue, which has two games remaining.
FORFEIT WINS
Both UCLA and USC gained forfeit victories on Wednesday because Northwestern chose not to play its pair of January games in California because of concerns over wildfires.
UP NEXT
UCLA returns home to host No. 4 USC on Saturday at 6 p.m.