Sienna Betts went 8-of-10 from the field for a career-best 17 points Thursday as UCLA women's basketball ran away from UC Irvine for a 78-42 win at Pauley Pavilion. The sophomore forward, making her first NCAA basketball career start, added four rebounds and two assists while drawing constant double teams in the paint.
Bruins Reignite in Final Quarter of UCLA vs UC Irvine
UCLA's backcourt was just as effective on the other end. Guards KK Bransford and Somto Okafor combined for five of the team's six first-quarter steals, as the Bruins shut out UC Irvine in the fourth quarter to push their winning streak to 20 games.
Between those bookend stretches, though, UCLA went cold. The Anteaters strung together a 10-0 run in the third — their best period at 21 points — before the Bruins tightened up again.
"We were lackadaisical with our passes," head coach Cori Close said of the lag. "I think I could have done a better job in that third quarter too. I always want to be the example to them about taking responsibility myself."
Timea Gardiner chipped in 12 points and Elina Aarnisalo finished with 14, but UCLA's 6-of-24 clip from deep suggests the Bruins still have work to do from beyond the arc as the 2026/27 season charges ahead.
