At her gamers’ request, Cori Shut confirmed up inside Pauley Pavilion 5 hours earlier than tipoff. The UCLA girls’s basketball coach was joined by her assistants and managers for pregame taking pictures at 6:30 a.m., so many gamers filling the courtroom that the periods needed to be staggered.
Three days after a lackluster exhibiting of their season opener, the Bruins felt that they had one thing to show of their first sport at residence. The extra work earlier than dealing with UC Santa Barbara on Thursday mirrored their dedication.
“I mean, I never have to coach this team’s work ethic,” Shut mentioned. “That is never in question. And so that’s a really fun place to be in.”
The day’s greatest gratification would come later, the third-ranked Bruins resembling an All-Star group at instances throughout an 87-50 rout of the Gauchos that confirmed glimpses of the firepower they hope to completely unleash by season’s finish.
Ahead Gabriela Jaquez revealed top-of-the-line long-range taking pictures shows of her profession, making 4 of seven three-pointers on the way in which to 21 factors. Level guard Kiki Rice was a continuing playmaker in her return to the beginning lineup whereas scoring 20 factors, grabbing eight rebounds and distributing three assists. Capturing guard Gianna Kneepkens added one other dimension to the offense with 4 extra three-pointers and 20 factors.
It was the primary time the Bruins had three gamers rating 20 or extra factors since 4 of them did it towards Bellarmine in November 2023.
“There’s so many weapons that I feel like it’s hard for the defense to choose what to take away,” Kneepkens mentioned, “so I think really what makes this team special is that on any night it could be someone’s night, so that’s a really hard thing to scout.”
The problem for the Bruins (2-0) may very well be to maximise all that expertise.
“We’re not quite there yet,” Shut mentioned. “We’re not playing with great rhythm. … I think we just haven’t totally found that flow yet.”
UCLA guard Kiki Rice drives to the basket previous UC Santa Barbara guard Zoe Shaw in the course of the second half Thursday.
(Kyusung Gong / Related Press)
A part of that may very well be pinned on Rice nonetheless rounding into type from a shoulder damage and fellow level guard Charlisse Leger-Walker (eight factors, seven assists, three steals) taking part in in solely her second sport since coming back from a prolonged damage layoff.
The Bruins had been additionally with out Sienna Betts (decrease leg) and Timea Gardiner (knee) for a second consecutive sport. Shut mentioned there remained no timetable for Betts’ return at the same time as she continued to progress.
However Shut mentioned she favored the way in which her gamers responded after describing them as “flat all the way around” of their opener, a 24-point victory over San Diego State.
“The film session after that was not fun. Practice was not fun,” Shut mentioned. “And their willingness to say, ‘This is what we need. We need to be challenged. We didn’t meet the standard’ — I’m really impressed with their willingness to do that.”
After some lackadaisical UCLA protection within the first quarter, there was a stretch within the second quarter through which the Bruins made it troublesome simply to get the ball previous halfcourt.
Jaquez caught out a hand, tipping an outlet cross to herself earlier than moving into for a driving layup through which she was fouled. On the Gauchos’ subsequent possession, Leger-Walker got here up with one other steal, resulting in a Rice layup.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Jaquez and teammate Lauren Betts (12 factors, seven rebounds, six assists) used a double group alongside the sideline to power one other turnover.
Closing the half on a 19-2 run, the Bruins surged right into a 51-26 lead. UCLA additionally benefited from an oddity halfway by way of the second quarter when the Gauchos (1-1) had been assessed a technical foul for having a participant carrying a jersey quantity that didn’t correspond with the scorebook.
For UCLA, the most important problem might need been scheduling the sport.
Shut mentioned she’s struggled to get groups to comply with play the Bruins after their Remaining 4 run, calling each faculty within the state from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. Most of UCLA’s marquee nonconference video games, beginning with a showdown towards Oklahoma on Monday in Sacramento, will probably be at impartial websites.
“They kept saying it’s the Lauren Betts factor and I was like, ‘No, it’s the you’re scared factor. Come on,’ ” Shut mentioned. “I actually really lose respect for people who aren’t willing to step up and play hard people.”
The Gauchos eagerly complied partly as a result of they had been Shut’s alma mater and the spot the place she coached for 9 years.
“Thank you to them for stepping up and coming into Pauley,” Shut mentioned, “and wanting to get better at their craft and growing the game.”
For the Gauchos, given the way in which issues went, they is likely to be owed a Christmas card as properly.
Early to rise, the Bruins additionally put an early finish to any upset hopes.
