This post was updated Feb. 17 10:21 p.m.

The Bruins returned home Sunday on the heels of their first loss of the season – one that dented what could have been a perfect season.

The Trojans snapped the Bruins’ record-breaking 23-game undefeated streak at the Galen Center on Thursday before the team returned to Pauley Pavilion to face another ranked Big Ten opponent. 

But this time, they were forced to play without their leading scorer and rebounder, Lauren Betts.

Despite the 6-foot-7 junior center being sidelined with a bruised right foot, No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball (24-1, 12-1 Big Ten) returned to Westwood with a 75-69 win over No. 22 Michigan State (19-6, 9-5) on Sunday night. The Pauley Pavilion win marked the Bruins’ first match with a loss under their belt so far this season. 

“We know and believe we’re a great team,” said junior guard Kiki Rice. “We obviously wanted to beat USC, but we didn’t want to let one loss deter our season.” 

Even with Betts sitting on the bench with a boot on her right foot, the Bruins commenced their homecoming with consecutive layups in the paint. 

“The biggest thing that hurt us not having Lauren tonight was how we would play defensively,” said coach Cori Close. “It took us a long time to figure out how we could adjust with her not being there as a protector, so that’s the challenge, but I really had confidence in our team.”

With a turnover finding its way into the hands of guard Londynn Jones, the Bruins etched their first 3-pointer less than three minutes into the game. However, the Spartans answered back with a 3-point jumper of their own to tie the game at five apiece.

Jones – the 5-foot-4 junior who broke the program record for most made 3-pointers in one season in the 2023-2024 campaign – put up a total of five points through Sunday’s match.

The back and forth between the Big Ten’s second- and seventh-best teams didn’t stop there. UCLA and Michigan State seemed caught in a trance, answering each other’s shots with their own until graduate student forward Angela Dugalić broke the spell with a swish from beyond the arc to grant UCLA a 13-8 lead midway throughout the first quarter. 

Following consecutive jumpers from Rice, the Bruins pushed further ahead with a nine-point lead. And despite a last-second jumper to close the opening frame, the Spartans were unable to pull ahead and entered the first break down five. 

“I recognize and enjoy the pressure, and I’m here to make this team and program the best it can be,” Rice said. “I’m focusing on helping our team win.”

The Bruins spurted out the gates in the second quarter with back-to-back shots from junior forward Janiah Barker to further the team’s lead. After a defensive rebound from the Texas A&M transfer, junior guard Gabriela Jaquez then sank her second 3-pointer of the night. 

With 1:39 left in the quarter, UCLA found its largest lead of the match with 13 points. The Spartans attempted to collect momentum heading into halftime, but the Bruins had the advantage at 41-33. 

Barker started for Betts following a right foot injury that left the team’s starting center sidelined. Making her presence known, Barker etched 10 points, five rebounds and two assists through the first half alone. 

The second half began with Spartan jumpers to diminish the Bruins’ lead to just six. Despite Rice and Jaquez finding consecutive offensive rebounds to continue scoring for the Bruins, the Spartans would not stop. 

Finding the net four times in three minutes, Michigan State clawed out of its deficit to land itself knotted up with UCLA for the first time all night. 

Another first occurred shortly after, with the Spartans taking the lead after a Bruin turnover led to a jumper by guard Jaddan Simmons. UCLA ended the quarter trailing 55-53, with Michigan State outscoring the hosts 22-12. 

The Spartans began the fourth quarter on the line, adding a free two points to their lead. 

But the Bruins didn’t spare too much time in their response.

Following a midrange jumper from Jones, Barker found movement in the paint off a turnover from the Spartans to even the score to 57-57. 

With 10 points and five assists, Rice continued the Bruins’ scoring to put them back in the lead with seven minutes remaining. An offensive rebound from Barker found its way to junior forward Timea Gardiner, where the Oregon State transfer found the back of the net to lead the Bruins in scoring with 15.

“When we play together, we’re really a tough team to beat,” Gardiner said. “Communicating fully and understanding what we need to do is the game plan, … and I think we did a phenomenal job.”

The Spartans continued their offensive work until an assist from Rice to Barker cut the Bruins’ three-point deficit to just one. With Michigan State unable to find the net, an offensive rebound and tip-in from Barker awarded the Bruins a one-point advantage with just over two minutes remaining on the clock. 

Two Spartan free throws later, the Bruins trailed by one in crunch time.

UCLA was locked out of the perimeter until a rebound from Barker found its way to Gardiner for her fourth 3-point jumper of the match to put the Bruins in the lead, 71-69. Gardiner shot 4-for-7 from deep throughout the night.

“I am really proud of the confidence and grit and toughness that we earn, and we’ve been talking about not relying on talent or making it look pretty but doing whatever it takes to find a way to win,” Close said. “Especially with what we watched at the end game of USC, I’m really proud of our response.”

A defensive rebound by Dugalić coupled with a technical foul from the Spartans’ coach Robyn Fralick gave Rice an additional two shots on the line. Leading by four with 17 seconds left, Rice was fouled again to solidify the Bruins’ 75-69 win.