This post was updated Jan. 8 at 12:17 a.m.

Early in the first quarter, graduate student forward Angela Dugalić grabbed the rebound and quickly took the ball up the floor.

After passing half court, she passed it to a wide open junior guard Londynn Jones sitting alone in the corner.

The junior guard drilled a 3-pointer, giving the Bruins a 10-0 lead less than two minutes into the game while the Boilermakers had only attempted a single shot.

No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball (16-0, 5-0 Big Ten) only grew its lead throughout its defeat of Purdue (7-8, 0-4) 83-49. After defeating Indiana by only 11 points, the Bruins capped off a successful two-game road trip with a comfortable victory against another Indiana-based squad. 

With its victory, UCLA has equaled its best start to a season in program history, matching its 16-0 start in 2019.

Following a slower start against Indiana – as UCLA had only a two-point lead over the Hoosiers at the end of the first quarter – the Bruins exploded out of the gate against the Boilermakers, taking a 29-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. 

“This team, with the exception of one game all year, has really started well,” said coach Cori Close. “It’s a compliment to their preparation and it always feels good to start out and share the ball and create offense off of our defense.”

The Bruins utilized their depth throughout the period, with seven different scorers contributing at least three points as no single player took more than three shots. 

Jones led the team in scoring in the first frame with two 3-pointers as the Bruins went a perfect four-for-four from 3-point land. Jones ended up with nine while going three-for-seven from three in her first start since Dec. 16.

The Bruins grew their lead to 25 by the end of the second quarter, largely thanks to a defensive performance that held the Boilermakers to only 19 points on a 25% shooting clip, including converting only one of their last 10 shots to end the quarter. 

While UCLA was pacing above its average of 82.9 points per game at the break, only one Bruin remained without a field goal – team top-scorer junior center Lauren Betts, who didn’t attempt a shot but added four points from the free throw line.

“As just a compliment to Lauren,” Close said. “If they’re going to play you that way, be a great screener because it’s going to be an automatic double-team. To have your leading scorer be willing to play that kind of role too, and sometimes that’s going to happen, that’s a real compliment to her selflessness.”

However, the drought wouldn’t last, as Betts added eight points in the third quarter on three-of-five shooting while helping extend the UCLA lead to 31. Betts wound up with 17 points on the game, which included going seven-for-nine from the free throw line, far better than her 55.9% average on the season.

“I would’ve loved to score more points in the first half,” Betts said. “We’re just so stacked that my teammates are going to get open if they’re trying to faceguard me the entire game.”

The Bruins outscored the Boilermakers in the fourth with half of their points contributed by junior forward Timea Gardiner, who went three-for-four from three. Her four conversions from deep were her most since November when she converted seven against Arkansas. 

“It’s just putting up the reps, getting the extra shots and belief in yourself,” said Gardiner. “My teammates have belief in me as well as my coaching staff and they constantly breathe that confidence into me and all you have to do is go out there and execute.”

After making only three shots of 13 from the field against Indiana, junior guard Kiki Rice bounced back with an efficient 11 points on 5-7 shooting despite only playing 17 minutes.