LOS ANGELES — In a show of dedication, Cori Close, the head coach of the UCLA Bruins women”s basketball team, arrived at Pauley Pavilion five hours before tipoff at the request of her players. Accompanied by her assistants and managers, she led a pregame shooting session that started at 6:30 AM. With so many players eager to practice, the shooting sessions had to be staggered. Following a lackluster performance in their season opener, the Bruins were determined to make a statement in their home debut against UC Santa Barbara.
The effort paid off as the third-ranked Bruins showcased their talent in an impressive 87-50 victory over the Gauchos, revealing flashes of the offensive power they aim to harness fully by the end of the season. Gabriela Jaquez delivered one of her finest long-range shooting performances, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and finishing the game with 21 points. Kiki Rice made a significant impact as a playmaker upon her return to the starting lineup, contributing 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Meanwhile, Gianna Kneepkens added to the scoring tally with four 3-pointers, also netting 20 points.
This marked the first occasion since November 2023 that the Bruins had three players score 20 or more points in a game. “There are so many weapons that I feel like it”s hard for the defense to choose what to take away,” Kneepkens remarked. “What makes this team special is that on any night, it could be someone else”s night, making it challenging to scout us.”
The challenge for the Bruins (2-0) now lies in maximizing their abundant talent. Close noted that Rice had shared insights from an Oklahoma City Thunder press conference, emphasizing the importance of building offensive rhythm by featuring the players who are performing well each night. “We”re not quite there yet,” Close explained. “Our rhythm is not ideal… We haven”t completely found that flow yet.” This issue may be partly attributed to Rice still regaining her form after a shoulder injury and Charlisse Leger-Walker (who scored eight points, with seven assists and three steals) playing only her second game back from an extended injury absence. Additionally, the Bruins were missing Sienna Betts (lower leg) and Timea Gardiner (knee) for the second straight contest.
Despite these challenges, Close expressed satisfaction with her team”s response after they had been described as “flat” in their previous opener, an easy win against San Diego State. “The film session after that was not enjoyable. Practice was tough,” Close noted. “Their willingness to acknowledge, “This is what we need. We need to be challenged. We didn”t meet the standard” — I am truly impressed with their commitment.”
After a sluggish defensive start in the first quarter, the Bruins turned things around, especially in the second quarter, where they made it difficult for the Gauchos to cross halfcourt. Jaquez made a standout play, tipping an outlet pass to herself before driving for a layup while drawing a foul. On the Gauchos” next possession, Leger-Walker recorded another steal that led to a layup by Rice. The Bruins capitalized on the momentum, closing the half on a 19-2 run to take a commanding 51-26 lead.
UCLA also benefited from an unusual incident midway through the second quarter when the Gauchos were hit with a technical foul due to a player wearing a jersey number that did not match the scorebook. For Close, scheduling this game has proven to be a challenge following the Bruins” Final Four run. She mentioned that she reached out to every school in the state, from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, as many teams are hesitant to compete against UCLA. “They kept saying it”s the Lauren Betts factor, but I told them, “No, it”s the you”re scared factor. Come on,”” Close commented. “I genuinely lose respect for teams that are unwilling to step up and play against tough competition.”
In contrast, the Gauchos accepted the challenge partly because Close is an alumnus and had coached there for nine years. “Thank you to them for stepping up and coming into Pauley,” she said, “and for their commitment to improving their craft and advancing the game.”
With their early morning preparation, the Bruins effectively extinguished any hopes of an upset by their opponents.
