The No. 1 UCLA women's basketball team extended its winning streak to 19 games with a convincing victory over Rutgers, maintaining its perfect record in the Big Ten conference.
The No. 1-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team extended its dominant season with an impressive 84-66 victory over Rutgers at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Thursday. This win marked UCLA ’s 19th consecutive victory, its 18th by double digits, and solidified its perfect Big Ten record at 7-0. After the game, Coach Cori Close expressed pride in her team’s performance while emphasizing their unwavering focus on a process-oriented approach. “We’re just focused on one game at a time,” Close said.
“We’re thankful to be 1-0 against Rutgers, and that’s the only thing we’re thinking about. We’re trying to learn from this game, what it taught us, and then move on to trying to be 1-0 again.”Close commended the versatility of her star players, particularly junior center Lauren Betts, who has been a force on both ends of the court throughout the season. “Lauren obviously has an incredible impact on both sides of the ball,” Close said. “She’s a great center, but she’s a versatile center. … The list of impacts on the game that she makes are endless. And when you combo that with a really, really elite lead guard, that’s pretty tough to stop, and that’s why our record is what it is.” The coach highlighted the adjustments her team made against Rutgers’ zone defense, which proved crucial in the second quarter. “I thought we started doing a little bit more off the pass,” Close said. “I thought we were dribbling too quickly versus their zone in the first quarter. Really challenging our guards to create ball movement and ball reversal was key.”Despite the convincing victory, Close acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in consistently implementing successful strategies. “Success leaves clues, and success in that second quarter left clues. We didn’t just take them and carry them over,” Close said. “That’s still an area we can grow in.” Beyond the tactical aspects of the game, Close emphasized the importance of mental conditioning and the team’s holistic approach to growth. “We spend time in the mind gym,” Close said. “At the top of our ‘what went well’ journal, we write, ‘Basketball is what I do, it is not who I am.’ Everything that happens is an opportunity to learn and grow.” Close also reiterated her commitment to balancing her pursuit of excellence with the broader mission of shaping her players’ character and impact. “In the end, banners hang in gyms, and even rings collect dust,” she said. “The only two things that last forever from these four years are who you become and who you impact.” UCLA (19-0, 7-0) will face a significant challenge against No. 8 Maryland on Sunday in College Park, Maryland. With the momentum and lessons gained from its latest win, UCLA aims to maintain its undefeated streak as it continues its journey towards a championship
UCLA Women's Basketball Rutgers Cori Close Lauren Betts Big Ten Undefeated
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