No. 1 UCLA Dominates Purdue 83-49 in Women’s Basketball Showdown

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The No. 1-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team continued its undefeated streak with a commanding 83-49 victory over Purdue on Tuesday night at Mackey Arena. Lauren Betts led the Bruins with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Timea Gardiner added 16 points off the bench, as UCLA improved to 16-0 (5-0 Big Ten).

The Bruins never trailed, jumping to a 10-0 lead within the first two minutes, forcing Purdue coach Katie Gearlds to call an early timeout. UCLA’s dominance was evident in the paint, outscoring Purdue 40-12, and shooting 53.2% from the field compared to Purdue’s 33.3%.

Destini Lombard was the lone bright spot for Purdue, scoring 16 points, but the Boilermakers struggled to keep pace with UCLA’s relentless offense. Rashunda Jones and McKenna Layden each contributed eight points, but Purdue fell to 7-8 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play.

UCLA coach Cori Close praised her team’s performance, noting the significance of playing in a venue that honors former UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden. “This trip has been special,” Close said. “We played well, got some rest, and even avoided the snowstorm.”

Purdue, in its fourth year under Gearlds, has yet to find its footing in conference play, with all four losses coming against ranked opponents. The Boilermakers face another tough test on Saturday when they host No. 25 Michigan.

UCLA returns home to face Northwestern on Sunday, aiming to maintain its perfect record and solidify its position as the nation’s top team.