LOS ANGELES — A full-strength UCLA women’s basketball team snapped Illinois’ winning streak, pulling away in the fourth quarter to beat the Fighting Illini, 70-55, on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.
Lauren Betts, who sat out Sunday’s 75-69 victory over No. 22 Michigan State because of a right foot injury, scored 22 points and blocked six shots, giving her a single-season program record 67. Betts shot 9 for 18 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds in 34 minutes.
Kiki Rice added 16 points, five rebounds and two blocks for third-ranked UCLA (25-1 overall, 13-1 Big Ten Conference), while Angela Dugalić chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.
With three regular-season games remaining, the Bruins are close to wrapping up a double bye into the quarterfinals of next month’s conference tournament.
Adani McKenzie led Illinois (21-6, 11-5) with 18 points. Berry Wallace scored 13, and Kendall Bostic had eight points and 11 rebounds.
It was the Bruins’ second straight win since a loss to USC dropped them from the top spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Illinois had won eight straight games despite dealing with injuries throughout this season. Just eight players suited up for the Illini on Thursday night and each of them had played at least 18 minutes in the first half alone.
The short-handed visitors remained scrappy throughout the game. UCLA barely outrebounded Illinois 38-37 and scored 21 points in the third quarter to stay in the game.
The Illini, who had trailed by 15 points early in the second half, used an 11-4 run over the last four minutes of third quarter to get within four going into the final 10 minutes. McKenzie had seven points during the rally.
Illinois pulled within 48-44 with 6:55 remaining on a Bryant 3-pointer, but UCLA put it out of reach with eight straight points, including five by Rice.
Betts resumed her role in the post for the Bruins, who finished with a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint. Gabriela Jaquez and Betts teamed up for an outside-in scoring approach that got UCLA points even when it wasn’t being the most aggressive, especially on the boards.
Londynn Jones – whose usual role is scoring from range – was critical off the ball to make contributions on defense. She drove in for a layup as part of a 7-0 UCLA run in the second quarter and later grabbed a steal for a breakaway layup.
UCLA, which shot 51.7% in the first half, closed the opening 20 minutes with a 13-2 run for a 32-18 advantage at halftime.
Janiah Barker left the game with 7:05 remaining in the second quarter after contact to the head and came back to the bench in the second half but did not get back into the game.
Barker recorded her first double-double as a Bruin in Sunday’s win against Michigan State.
More to come on this story.