No. 2 UCLA Takes Second-Consecutive Top-15 Win in Victory over Michigan State

Wednesday, February 11

East Lansing, MI

5 p.m. PT

UCLA

24-1,14-0Big Ten

Michigan State

20-5,9-5Big Ten

UCLA

Michigan St.

Photo by: UCLA Athletics

No. 2 UCLA Takes Second-Consecutive Top-15 Win in Victory over Michigan State

February 11, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame - Kiki Rice (YouTube)

EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 2 UCLA (24-1, 14-0 B1G) finishes its Michigan road trip with a landslide top-15 victory against No. 13 Michigan State (20-5, 9-5 B1G), 86-63, only three days after a top-10 win against No. 8 Michigan.

Four out of five starters scored in double figures: Lauren Betts (22), Kiki Rice (18), Gabriela Jaquez (13), and Gianna Kneepkens (12). Rice and Lauren Betts both added seven rebounds and five assists, with the center also adding two blocks.

UCLA started the match strong, scoring on their first six possessions to create a sizeable lead early. After winning the tip, Lauren Betts instantly got to work, hitting a layup 12 seconds in to give the Bruins an early lead. Jaquez created rhythm for UCLA, grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing the second-chance attempt. After a missed shot attempt by the Spartans, Jaquez grabbed the defensive rebound, with the ball eventually finding its way back to her to score two more points off a spin move and a left-handed scoop-in layup. After a Michigan State response, graduate student Charlisse Leger-Walker cashed in a 3-pointer, extending the Bruin lead to 9-4. Jaquez and Lauren Betts further added to the scoring board, hitting back-to-back layups with 6:55 left in the quarter.

Despite not scoring a field goal again until a fast-break layup in the paint by Leger-Walker three minutes later, UCLA's defensive prowess shined; the team gave up only two points, and graduate student Angela Dugalić recorded a block. Rice scored the final five points for UCLA in the quarter, hitting two layups and a free throw to give the Bruins the 23-9 point lead to enter the second.

Jaquez led all scorers in the first, racking up eight points, three rebounds, and an assist while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Rice followed closely after her with six points of her own, while Leger-Walker trailed right behind with five.

Gabs spins to the rim! ???

??: Peacock#GoBruins | @gabrielarj11 pic.twitter.com/sgnsWfWQAm
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) February 12, 2026

After the Spartans hit a shot on their first possession of the second quarter, the Bruins completed a 9-0 run, shutting their opponent out for the next 4:17. Lauren Betts continued to make her impact felt into the next period, grabbing an offensive rebound over two players and finishing the shot to add two more points to the board. After she snagged the defensive rebound, Leger-Walker created an offensive opportunity, completing the layup and forcing an early timeout by Michigan State.

Out of the timeout, Lauren Betts continued with the pressure, giving UCLA another two to add, assisted by sister, freshman Sienna Betts. After coming back into the game, Rice found Kneepkens across the court for the wide-open three. Following five more points from Lauren Betts – who only missed one shot in the quarter – UCLA earned back-to-back blocks thanks to redshirt-sophomore Amanda Muse and Lauren Betts. Jaquez hit the final two field goals for the Bruins, including a 3-pointer with 9 seconds left.

UCLA concluded the first half up 44-20.

Lauren Betts and Jaquez both finished the half with a game-high 13 points, only missing a combined three shots out of 14 between them. The duo both added four rebounds, while Lauren Betts also complemented that with an assist and a block. Rice went into the half with six points, six rebounds, and three assists. The Bruins shot 54.5 percent from the field while holding the Spartans to a mere 23 percent.

Gotta find the shooter ??

??: Peacock#GoBruins | @kiki_rice0 x @giannakneepkens pic.twitter.com/7TVpw0vQs0
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) February 12, 2026

Rice and Lauren Betts scored the first eight points for the Bruins out of the break, highlighted by a Rice 3-pointer at the top of the arc. Lauren Betts' skill were on full display on both sides of the ball, with her getting her second block of the game. That rejection translated into a made layup by Leger-Walker off the fast break at the 6:42 mark. Rice showed her alertness on offense a minute later, hauling in an offensive rebound before hitting a jump shot in the paint. Sienna Betts refused to be denied, scoring a layup against two defenders off a dime by Kneepkens. Not finished yet, she finished another shot a minute later in the paint thanks to a defensive rebound and an assist by Dugalić. With less than a minute left, freshman Lena Bilic recorded a steal for the Bruins, giving Lauren Betts a chance to score in the paint for UCLA.

Rice added seven points for UCLA in the quarter, shooting 3-for-4 from the field. UCLA held the Spartans to shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in the quarter. The Bruins finished the third up 66-38.

Bury her, Si! ????

??: Peacock#GoBruins | @giannakneepkens x @SiennaBetts pic.twitter.com/ub3lVXV94r
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) February 12, 2026

Muse set the energy high for the Bruins in the closing quarter, earning her second block of the game on Michigan State's first possession of the period. Lauren Betts and Rice kept their feet on the gas, scoring the first nine points for UCLA in the fourth. Lauren Betts hit 20 points at the 9:26 mark. After a 3-point shot by Rice, Dugalić gave it a try on the next possession after grabbing the defensive rebound, giving UCLA six points in a row and a 29-point lead. Kneepkens grabbed a steal and hit a three on the other side to keep the Spartan defense honest on the arc. With 1:37 left in the game, Sienna Betts got active on both sides of the ball, recording a defensive rebound before completing a layup in the paint on the other side.

Back-2?-back Bruin threes! ???????

??: Peacock#GoBruins | @kiki_rice0 x @AngelaDugalic pic.twitter.com/OeS4KlV1Oc
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) February 12, 2026

UCLA led in field goal percentage (56-31), 3-point percentage (39-35), rebounds (48-28), points in the paint (56-22), blocks (7-2), and assists (24-17) over Michigan State.

The Bruins never trailed in the wire-to-wire ranked victory.

UP NEXT: vs. Indiana (Feb. 15)
UCLA returns home for a matchup against Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom Financial. Sunday will be the Bruins' Play4Kay game in support of the Kay Yow Foundation.

Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. PT on Peacock.