No. 2 UCLA women dominate No. 8 Iowa for 15th

Angela Dugalic scored 22 factors off the bench, Kiki Rice had 17 and Lauren Betts added 16 as the UCLA women’s basketball crew recorded its eighth win against a ranked opponent with a dominant 88-65 victory over No. 8 Iowa on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion.

“I’m proud to be part of this team,” Dugalic said. “It’s fun to play with these girls. We’re not taking any team for granted. At the end of the day, if you’re our next opponent, that’s who we’re concentrating on.”

The No. 2 Bruins (21-1 general, 11-0 Big Ten) received their 15th straight recreation and improved to 10-0 at home. They lead the convention by one recreation over No. 9 Michigan, which beat No. 13 Michigan State in additional time Sunday.

Charlisse Leger-Walker completed with 10 factors, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Gianna Kneepkens added 10 factors, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, and Rice dished out seven assists for UCLA, which improved to 3-1 all time against Iowa and 3-0 under coach Cori Close.

“I’m thrilled for Angela getting a career high today, but what I’m happy about most is how many different people are stepping up,” Close said. “We’ve got plenty of weapons. This group couldn’t have been more happy for Angela. I love the way they celebrate each other’s growth.”

Ava Heiden netted 19 factors and Hannah Stuelke added 13 for the Hawkeyes (18-4, 9-2), who have been making an attempt to rebound from Thursday evening’s 81-69 loss to unranked USC at Galen Center.

It was supposed to be UCLA’s hardest recreation since its defeat to No. 4 Texas in December. Instead the Bruins made it look straightforward by getting every participant concerned. They racked up 29 assists and have been 50% from three-point vary and eight for eight at the free-throw line.

No. 1 Connecticut routed No. 15 Tennessee by 30 to keep undefeated while Texas, No. 5 Vanderbilt, No. 6 Louisiana State and No. 7 Louisville also received Sunday.

Having misplaced to the top two groups in the nation, Iowa coach Jan Jensen was requested to evaluate them.

“Both are outstanding at every position,” Jensen said. (*8*)

Close said her crew just isn’t where she desires it to be fairly yet.

(*2*)

UCLA guard Kiki Rice, proper, appears to be like for a go in entrance of Iowa guard Chit-Chat Wright during the first half Sunday.

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

“Losing to UConn in the tournament last year taught me that you can never be satisfied,” Close said. “The edge is a really good place and I want us to live on that edge every day, not rely on our talent.”

Rice’s layup capped a 6-0 run to put the Bruins up by 13 with 4:21 left in the first half. Iowa closed within eight before Kneepkens drained a nook three at the buzzer to give UCLA a 39-28 lead at halftime. UCLA outscored Iowa 28-10 in the paint in the half.

Betts’ jumper elevated the Bruins’ lead to 22 with 3:10 left in the third, but she picked up her fourth personal foul two minutes later and Iowa took benefit while scoring the ultimate 5 factors of the quarter. Dugalic’s third three-pointer gave UCLA its largest lead, 86-59, with a little more than three minutes left.

“The confidence we have is mainly because we know we put in the work in practice,” Betts said. “Coach never lets up in terms of playing to our standard. We try to get ball inside because we have amazing post presence. We want to do that.”

UCLA hosts Rutgers on Wednesday before its showdown with Michigan next Sunday.

“Angela earned everything she got today,” Close said. “Sure, she benefits from how dominant Lauren is, but we posted her up, we ran plays to get her three … show me a more versatile forward in the country than her.”