Friday, March 21
Los Angeles, Calif.
7 p.m.
UCLA
31-2,15-2Big Ten
84
vs
46
Southern University
21-15,15-3SWAC
1
2
3
4
F
Southern U.
11
15
7
13
46
UCLA
23
15
21
25
84
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
UCLA Beats Southern University 84-46 in NCAA Tournament Opener
March 21, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 1-ranked UCLA Women's Basketball team won their first-round matchup of the NCAA tournament against Southern University at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial on Friday night, 84-46. The Bruins 38-point margin of victory was the largest in UCLA Women's Basketball history in the NCAA tournament.
Junior Lauren Betts was the game's leading scorer, finishing with 14 points alongside six blocks, four assists, three blocks, and a steal for the Bruins (31-2) in the win over Southern Univeristy (21-15).
Six Bruins, including Betts, finished in double figures. Janiah Barker recorded her sixth double-double of the season with ten points and ten rebounds. Londynn Jones finished with eleven points while Kiki Rice added ten points and seven assists. Gabriela Jaquez and freshman Elina Aarnisalo also scored 10 points in the game.
The Bruins got off to a quick start, and ended the first quarter up 23-11 on the Jaguars. Jaquez hit a deep three-pointer to score the first field goal of the game, while Betts was the highest scorer of the quarter, finishing with six points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. Jones finished with four points in the quarter. In the final seconds of the quarter, Betts scored a layup off of her own offensive rebound to secure the team's 12-point advantage, 23-11.
UCLA was consistent throughout the second quarter. Jaquez again opened the frame with a three-pointer, which was quickly followed by another three by Aarnisalo. Timea Gardiner also hit a three-pointer in the quarter. All three three-pointers made in the second quarter were assisted by Rice, who finished the first half with six dimes and zero turnovers.
The Bruins turned up the intensity in the third quarter, scoring 21 points and holding the Jaguars to only seven. Jones scored the first points of the quarter off of a pull-up jumper. Barker recorded three points, three rebounds, an assist, and a block that led to a layup by Jaquez. Rice was the team's leading scorer of the frame with five points. Gardiner finished the quarter with a fade-away three-point shot with five seconds left on the clock to put the Bruins up 59-33 heading to the fourth.
UCLA was dominant in the fourth quarter, outscoring Southern 25-13. Rice led off the scoring in the quarter with a three-pointer off of an assist from Betts. Betts quickly followed with a layup off of an assist from Rice. Barker led the quarter in scoring with seven points. Jones and Aarnisalo each contributed five points to reach double figures in the final quarter as the Bruins ran out 84-46 winners on Friday night.
UP NEXT - NCAA Tournament Second Round (March 23)
The Bruins will advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament to face off against the eight seed, Richmond, inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial on Sunday, March 23. The tip-off time is TBD.
Junior Lauren Betts was the game's leading scorer, finishing with 14 points alongside six blocks, four assists, three blocks, and a steal for the Bruins (31-2) in the win over Southern Univeristy (21-15).
Six Bruins, including Betts, finished in double figures. Janiah Barker recorded her sixth double-double of the season with ten points and ten rebounds. Londynn Jones finished with eleven points while Kiki Rice added ten points and seven assists. Gabriela Jaquez and freshman Elina Aarnisalo also scored 10 points in the game.
The Bruins got off to a quick start, and ended the first quarter up 23-11 on the Jaguars. Jaquez hit a deep three-pointer to score the first field goal of the game, while Betts was the highest scorer of the quarter, finishing with six points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. Jones finished with four points in the quarter. In the final seconds of the quarter, Betts scored a layup off of her own offensive rebound to secure the team's 12-point advantage, 23-11.
UCLA was consistent throughout the second quarter. Jaquez again opened the frame with a three-pointer, which was quickly followed by another three by Aarnisalo. Timea Gardiner also hit a three-pointer in the quarter. All three three-pointers made in the second quarter were assisted by Rice, who finished the first half with six dimes and zero turnovers.
TG is startin' to feel goooood ??
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 22, 2025
?? 2-4 3FG | @timea_gardiner pic.twitter.com/8IFIlGEl91
The Bruins turned up the intensity in the third quarter, scoring 21 points and holding the Jaguars to only seven. Jones scored the first points of the quarter off of a pull-up jumper. Barker recorded three points, three rebounds, an assist, and a block that led to a layup by Jaquez. Rice was the team's leading scorer of the frame with five points. Gardiner finished the quarter with a fade-away three-point shot with five seconds left on the clock to put the Bruins up 59-33 heading to the fourth.
Top of the Key Threeeeee?? @kiki_rice0#MarchMadness x ?? ESPN / @UCLAWBB pic.twitter.com/gZfAghcqVs
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 22, 2025
UCLA was dominant in the fourth quarter, outscoring Southern 25-13. Rice led off the scoring in the quarter with a three-pointer off of an assist from Betts. Betts quickly followed with a layup off of an assist from Rice. Barker led the quarter in scoring with seven points. Jones and Aarnisalo each contributed five points to reach double figures in the final quarter as the Bruins ran out 84-46 winners on Friday night.
UP NEXT - NCAA Tournament Second Round (March 23)
The Bruins will advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament to face off against the eight seed, Richmond, inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial on Sunday, March 23. The tip-off time is TBD.
Team Stats
SU
UCLA
FG%
.317
.553
3FG%
.133
.450
FT%
.545
.767
RB
23
44
TO
13
17
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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