Londynn Jones made a pull-up jumper.
Kiki Rice obtained a steal.
Janiah Barker scored a troublesome putback layup.
Rice hit free throws.
After which, Timea Gardiner hit the largest three of the season for the Bruins with 44 seconds to go.
High-ranked UCLA has confirmed to be one of many deepest groups within the nation, and so they confirmed it once more Sunday evening, overcoming the absence of their main scorer to defeat No. 22 Michigan State 75-69 in a March Insanity-like thriller.
UCLA star middle Lauren Betts didn’t play due to a foot damage. She wore an air solid throughout pregame warmups and is taken into account day-to-day, the group introduced.
Making up for Betts’ absence required a collective effort, and Barker did her half. One in all her greatest performs got here with simply over a minute left earlier than halftime when she stole the ball from Michigan State’s Nyla Hampton and scored on a straightforward layup to place the Bruins forward 41-28 with simply over a minute earlier than halftime.
Barker completed with 18 factors, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Gardiner additionally had 18 factors for the Bruins to associate with 4 rebounds. Rice’s 16 factors and 7 assists have been additionally essential.
However UCLA (24-1 general, 12-1 Large Ten) missed Betts’ defensive presence — the Spartans scored 22 factors within the paint within the first half.
Michigan State (19-6, 9-5) was the extra bodily group early within the second half, forcing 5 UCLA turnovers within the first 5 minutes. Theryn Hallock and Julia Ayrault led the way in which for Michigan State as they erased UCLA’s eight-point halftime lead. The Spartans took their first lead late within the third quarter off a Jocelyn Tate layup and held a 55-53 lead going into the fourth.
Michigan State prolonged its lead with two free throws on the primary possession and led for many of the fourth till Gardiner’s crucial three-pointer put the Bruins forward by two.
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1. UCLA’s Londynn Jones tries to drive previous Michigan State’s Theryn Hallock within the second half. 2. UCLA’s Londynn Jones, left, tries to strip the ball away from Michigan State’s Jaddan Simmons. 3. UCLA’s Kiki Rice (1) smiles with teammates within the remaining minute of the Bruins’ win Sunday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Rice prolonged the result in 4 after hitting two free throws following a Michigan State group technical foul. Rice hit two extra free throws with 13 seconds left to safe the UCLA win.
As time expired, Barker grabbed a missed layup from Grace VanSlooten and waved to the raucous Pauley Pavilion crowd.
The Bruins will play host to Illinois on Thursday.
