UCLA Overcomes Slow Start to Defeat Washington and Extend Their Winning Streak to 23 Games

UCLA Women’s Basketball Advances to Big Ten Semifinals with Dominant Win Over Washington

INDIANAPOLIS— The UCLA women’s basketball team continued its impressive run in the Big Ten tournament on Friday, defeating No. 8 seed Washington 78-60 to secure a spot in the semifinals.

Leading the charge was center Lauren Betts, who scored 26 points, helping the No. 1 seed Bruins maintain their undefeated record in conference play. UCLA showcased its strength in the second half, building a lead that reached as much as 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Washington (21-10, 11-9), which had advanced past No. 9 seed USC in the previous round, encountered difficulties matching UCLA’s intensity after halftime. Despite a promising start, the Huskies could not keep pace with their rivals.

UCLA (22-1, 19-0), currently ranked second in the nation by the Associated Press, experienced a sluggish beginning, managing only six points in the first quarter—a season low. The Bruins missed five consecutive shots during a scoring drought that lasted over five minutes.

While the Huskies had initially established a 10-point lead in the second quarter, Betts’ performance, including 10 points in the first half, reignited the Bruins. UCLA ended the half with a 15-2 run to secure a 27-24 lead going into halftime.

Notably, the Bruins, who hold the best three-point shooting percentage in the Big Ten, struggled from beyond the arc. They did not convert a single three-pointer until Kiki Rice hit one at the 5:27 mark in the third quarter, resulting in a season-worst shooting performance of 1-for-10 from three-point range.

As the game progressed, Washington briefly took the lead in the third quarter, buoyed by guard Avery Howell’s 18 points. However, the Bruins quickly found their rhythm and ultimately shot 54% from the field for the game.

This victory marked UCLA’s 10th consecutive win against Washington and extended their overall winning streak to 23 games, with their last loss occurring on November 26.

Looking ahead, UCLA is set to face the winner of the matchup between No. 4 seed Minnesota and No. 5 seed Ohio State in a Big Ten tournament semifinal on Saturday, with a spot in the championship game on the line.