The No.1 UCLA Bruins cruise past No.16 Southern University Jaguars 84-46

UCLA Bruins #1 Kiki Rice (G) is pushing the ball upcourt while being guarded by Southern University Jaguars #4 DaKiyah Sanders (G). Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1 March 21, 2025.

WESTWOOD, CA - The No.1 UCLA Bruins (31-2, 15-2 Big Ten) had six players in double-digit scoring, Lauren Betts with 14 points, Londynn Jones with 11 points, Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, Elina Aarmisalo, and Janiah Barker, all four with 10 points to help beat the No.16 Southern University Jaguars (21-15, 15-2 SWAC) at Pauley Pavilion 84-46.

It was a rough night shooting for the Jaguars being undersize, and making only 19 of 60 shots for 31.7 percent, 2 for 15 from three-point at 13.3 percent, Aniya Gourdine with 10 points was their leading scorer, and Soniyah Reed was 1 of 9 shooting.

"Their size was a major factor tonight," Southern coach Carlos Funchess said. "Against a team like this, you have to pick your poison. Either you're going to try to stop them from scoring inside, or you're going to have to give them some 3s. So we tried to mix it up a little bit, and tried to play some zone, but they were knocking down shots. So it was really tough to try to keep them off balance offensively."

UCLA made 26 of their 47 shots for 55.3 percent, 9 for 20 from three-point for 45.0 percent, and outrebounded Southern University 44 to 23.

"I was fired up tonight," Close said. "I thought I needed to coach them hard to hold the standard. I understood the expectations. I want my intensity to lead the way of what was important.

UCLA Bruins #51 Lauren Betts (C) is posting up on the right side of the basket against Southern University Jaguars #21 Tionna Lidge (C). Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1 March 21, 2025

"We've been talking a lot about (how) we have a lot of talent, but that is not going to determine our ceiling. What determines our ceiling is our character, our choices, discipline, grittiness."

The Bruins jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a three-pointer by Gabriela Jaquez to start the first quarter. The Jaguars trailed 9-5 with a three-pointer by Dakiyah Sanders. UCLA went up 16-5 with a three-pointer by Timea Gardiner from the left side of the court.

Soniyah Reed, off the bench, didn't waste any time pulled up for a jump shot, making the score 16-7 in favor of UCLA. Lauren Betts went up for a layup to give UCLA an 18-7 lead before subbing out.

Jocelyn Tate's put-back basket had Southern Trailing 19-9. The Jaguars trailed 23-11 at the end of the first quarter with a last-second layup by Aleighyah Fontenot.

The Jaguars got off to a good start in the second quarter, scoring first with a layup by Demya Porter. UCLA led 29-13 with a three-pointer by Elina Aamisalo.

Southern University Jaguars #1 Aniya Gourdine (G) is being defended by UCLA Bruins #1 Kiki Rice (G). Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1 March 21, 2025.

Southern University trailed 36-18, with a layup by Aniya Gourdine. UCLA led at halftime 38-26, with Betts being the leading scorer with 10 points, Jaquez with 8 points, and Gardiner with 6 points. Gourdine led Southern in scoring with 6 points.

Kiki Rice, with a three-pointer at the top of the key, gave UCLA a 47-26 lead in the third quarter. Southern was still scrapping and fighting, and Tate, with her layup, had them down 54-33.

The Bruins led at the end of the third quarter 59-33 right before Gardiner knocked down a three-pointer in front of her bench.

In the fourth quarter, Janiah Barker's driving layup gave UCLA a 78-44 lead and cruised the rest of the way to advance to the second round to take on the No. 8 Richmond Spiders on Sunday at 7 pm.