Rice and Betts Fuel UCLA’s Unstoppable 10-Game Streak with Dominant Win Over Minnesota

Watching UCLA slice through Minnesota 76-58 felt like witnessing a masterclass in basketball prowess—Kiki Rice was unstoppable, knocking down 25 points on nearly perfect shooting, while Lauren Betts delivered her third straight double-double despite early foul trouble. The Bruins, now 16-1 and cruising undefeated in conference play, extended their win streak to a whopping 10 games, proving their mettle against top-tier competition. It’s clear they’re not just playing; they’re making statements—especially when you consider they fired away 60% from the floor against the nation’s stingiest defense. On the flip side, Minnesota fought hard but couldn’t find the spark to break through, even with solid showings from Amaya Battle and Mara Braun. If this game is any preview, the upcoming clash with No. 12 Maryland is shaping up to be a showdown you don’t want to miss. LEARN MORE

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kiki Rice had 25 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Lauren Betts posted her third straight double-double, leading No. 3 UCLA past Minnesota 76-58 on Wednesday night.

Betts staved off early foul trouble to finish with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Bruins (16-1, 6-0) stayed unbeaten in Big Ten play and pushed their winning streak to 10 straight games. Their only loss was to No. 4 Texas in Las Vegas on Nov. 26.

Rice hit all three of her 3-point attempts to make the Gophers pay for packing the paint, as the Bruins shot 60% from the floor (27 for 45) against the top defensive team in the nation. UCLA had by far the highest final score in a regulation game this season against Minnesota, which was allowing an average of 51.8 points per game entering the night.

The Gophers lost 100-99 in double overtime to then-No. 7 Maryland on Dec. 7. They beat then-No. 21 USC 63-62 on Sunday for the program’s first win over a ranked team since 2019.

Amaya Battle scored 16 points and Mara Braun added 15 points for the Gophers (12-5, 3-3), who forced 17 turnovers but managed only three fast-break points.

As the Bruins have charged through a challenging start to their Big Ten schedule, Betts has been a force all over the floor — and especially around the basket.

The AP Preseason All-American had 18 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four blocks on Sunday in a win at now-No. 24 Nebraska, one of four opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the game and one of four road games for UCLA in a six-game stretch that began after the holiday break.