Dynamic Bruin Defense Suffocates Purdue Women

Dynamic Bruin Defense Suffocates Purdue Women 83 to 49

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA

photos by: Greg Flint, Excel H Sports/Flint Photography

Excel H Sports #1 ranked UCLA Bruins dominated Purdue from start to finish as they opened up a quick thirteen to nothing lead (13-0) in the first minute and a half of the game.

UCLA was so dominant national player of the year candidate; Junior Lauren Betts didn’t attempt a shot from the floor but was a perfect four of four from the line.

Betts would finish the contest with 17 points on five of eight from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds.

For the rest of the Bruins, they more than handled their part of the game plan.

Angela Dugalic, Kiki Rice, Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jaquez along with Timea Gardiner and Janiah Barker as they collectively opened up that 13 to zero run and then another 14 oto zero run that had them up 44 to 19 points at the half.

Katie Geralds is in year four of the rebuild at Purdue and after 15 games they are seven and eight, though four of their losses were against Top 25 teams.

Things don’t get any easier looking at their B1G schedule as they play four of five teams ranked in their next five games.

Geralds has a young team and inexperienced in many places and it clearly showed tonight against the top-ranked Bruins.

For the game UCLA placed four players in double-digits with Betts leading the way with 17, Timea Gardiner with 16 points on six of eight from the floor, including four of five behind the arc.

Kiki Rice and Janiah Barker added 11 a piece. Rice also had four boards while Barker was five of ten from the floor.

Londynn Jones who opened up the game at Mackey with deft shooting, ended the game with nine points while Angela Dugalic recorded six points and boards and Gabriela Jaquez five points and boards.

Destini Lombard led Purdue with 16 points while Rashunda Jones and McKenna Layden added eight points off the Boilermaker bench.

For the game UCLA hit 53.3% from the floor on 33 of 62 shooting, nine of twenty from behind the arc for 45%, 39 rebounds and 20 assists.

Purdue shot 33.4% percent from the floor on 17 of 51 shots, 6 of 18 from behind the line with 21 rebounds and 13 team steals.