Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
5d ago

No. 2 UCLA Extends Win Streak to 14 With 80-67 Victory at Illinois

UCLA's interior strength kept its Big Ten start perfect despite a 1-for-10 night from three.

UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) towers over Illinois Fighting Illini forward Berry Wallace (23) as she drives to the basket in the second half during a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the UCLA Bruins at State Farm Center on Jan. 28, 2026, in Champaign, IL. The Bruins beat the Fighting Illini 80-67. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois Fighting Illini line up for the national anthem before the start of a game against the UCLA Bruins at State Farm Center on Jan. 28, 2026, in Champaign. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Overview

  • Lauren Betts overcame early foul trouble and a technical, sat the entire second quarter, then returned to post 23 points and nine rebounds in roughly 24 minutes.
  • The Bruins improved to 20-1 overall and 10-0 in conference play by dominating inside for a 48-24 edge in points in the paint.
  • UCLA's bench outscored Illinois' reserves 24-12 as the Bruins won despite making only one three-pointer in 10 attempts.
  • Illinois was without injured Gretchen Dolan while Cearah Parchment scored a career-high 26 points before fouling out, and the Illini have lost five of their past seven.
  • In a separate AP game from the same night, No. 1 UConn routed Xavier 97-39 as freshman Allie Ziebell tied the program record with 10 made threes.