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Black History Month 2025

UCLA women’s basketball readies for conference play against Nebraska, Michigan

Junior forward Janiah Barker reaches up over an opponent. The Texas A&M transfer has averaged 10.2 points per game so far this season. (Brandon Morquecho/Daily Bruin senior staff)

By Noah Massey

Dec. 28, 2024 11:47 a.m.

The Bruins reenter the trials of conference play following a nine-day holiday break.

No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) will take on new conference rivals Nebraska (10-2, 1-0) and No. 23 Michigan (10-2, 1-0) in its inaugural home Big Ten matchups. Both opponents will take on the Bruins following double-digit losses to competition currently ranked top 15 in the nation.

While Nebraska and Michigan won’t be the toughest matchups of the upcoming conference gauntlet, with teams such as No. 4 USC and No. 8 Maryland later this season, their quality represents the consistent rigor of UCLA’s schedule.

“Every single night that we go out there, we’re going to have a really good competitor on the other side,” said junior guard Kiki Rice. “That’s what we train for, and we’re looking forward to that.”

Though UCLA has a limited track record against either squad – with seven combined contests against both – the team has seen vastly different results. It fell short against Nebraska in each of its last three contests but has gone undefeated against Michigan.

While competing against the Cornhuskers and Wolverines used to be rare, their unification in the newly expanded Big Ten has helped to thrust the conference into one of premier women’s college basketball competition.

UCLA has plenty of obstacles in the way of maintaining its top ranking and potentially capturing a Big Ten conference crown. The conference features four of the top-10 teams in the nation – all of who have combined for a single loss this season.

However, a leg injury to Lauren Betts – which caused the junior center to miss the last two games – could leave the Bruins without their leading scorer and rebounder.

On the flip side, UCLA hasn’t missed a beat in Betts’ absence, defeating Cal Poly and Creighton by a combined 61 points.

“You look at our whole roster and the people who are out, there’s basically no way of stopping us,” said graduate student forward Angela Dugalić. “It just shows how if I’m not having a good night, I know it’s next woman up.”

Dugalić, as well as junior forward Janiah Barker, have helped fill the rebounding gap left by Betts, with the latter earning her first two starts of the season. During the Creighton game, the duo combined for 25 rebounds in Betts’ absence, surpassing their combined season average of 15 boards per game.

“I thought (freshman forward) Kendall Dudley did a great job on the boards,” said coach Cori Close. “(Junior guard) Gabriela Jaquez always does that for us, but Janiah Barker and Angela Dugalić really held it down. Not only are they really long, but they’re versatile and they’re athletic.”

However, the Bruins’ 69 and 70-point showings against the Mustangs and Bluejays, respectively, were far below their season average of 83 points per game.

With Betts remaining questionable and unfamiliar opponents lining up on the docket, the Bruins will dive headfirst into their conference schedule – which will encompass 17 of their next 18 games.

“This conference will hold you accountable,” Close said. “It’ll hold you accountable to your consistency. It’ll hold you accountable to your growth.”

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Noah Massey
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