"At her players' request, Cori Close showed up inside Pauley Pavilion five hours before tipoff. The UCLA women's basketball coach was joined by her assistants and managers for pregame shooting at 6:30 a.m., so many players filling the court that the sessions had to be staggered. Three days after a lackluster showing in their season opener, the Bruins felt they had something to prove in their first game at home."
""I mean, I never have to coach this team's work ethic," Close said. "That is never in question. And so that's a really fun place to be in." The day's biggest gratification would come later, the third-ranked Bruins resembling an All-Star team at times during an 87-50 rout of the Gauchos that showed glimpses of the firepower they hope to fully unleash by season's end."
"Forward Gabriela Jaquez revealed one of the best long-range shooting displays of her career, making four of seven three-pointers on the way to 21 points. Point guard Kiki Rice was a constant playmaker in her return to the starting lineup while scoring 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds and distributing three assists. Shooting guard Gianna Kneepkens added another dimension to the offense with four more three-pointers and 20 points."
UCLA responded strongly after a flat season opener, staging early-morning pregame shooting sessions and showing heightened focus entering the home opener. The Bruins dominated UC Santa Barbara 87-50, with Gabriela Jaquez scoring 21 on four three-pointers, Kiki Rice contributing 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Gianna Kneepkens adding 20 with four threes. The performance represented the first time the team had three players reach 20 or more points since four did so against Bellarmine in November 2023. Coach Cori Close praised the team's unquestioned work ethic and willingness to challenge itself.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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