UCLA added on another win versus Purdue on Wednesday, with the Bruins throttling the Boilermakers 96-48. Cori Close’s team continues to punish teams at Pauley Pavilion as now the Bruins have gone 9-0 at home with all nine wins coming by more than 20 points. UCLA’s improved shooting this season has done wonders for the team’s offense.
The Bruins will have to get big wins away from Pauley Pavilion
Eventually the Bruins will be forced to get big wins away from Pauley Pavilion for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments but it’s been an impressive stretch for UCLA to stack such sound victories for their home crowds. Even though UCLA cruised to the 48-point win, Close wasn’t too impressed with the way the Bruins played.
Cori Close knows her team can do better
“It wasn’t our best night,” Close said. “Really proud of where we’re going but we have a lot of growing still to do.”
UCLA’s two additions to this year’s team combine for nine threes
For the second-straight game UCLA matched their season-high in three pointers made with 13. Charlisse Leger-Walker led the way with five threes while Gianna Kneepkens added four and Gabriela Jaquez hit three. UCLA went a phenomenal 13-22 from deep but that shooting wouldn’t be possible without Lauren Betts’ presence in the paint.
Lauren Betts can feel the difference this season
“I think it’s really hard for other teams to guard us when they’re so focused on double-teams, triple-teams and we have such threats on the perimeter,” Betts said postgame. “I’m just glad that they’re on my team.”
The team knows it’s a two-way street. Betts attracting defenders down low will create open looks from three and UCLA shooters knocking down shots will prevent defenses from flooding Betts down low.
UCLA’s shooters knows that Lauren Betts changes the game
“I’m so thankful to be on a team with Lauren,” Jaquez said. “To have great open shots like that. It’s just great playing with her, she’s improved so much. It’s just so hard to guard us.”
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Lauren Betts and shooters: A match made in heaven for UCLA basketball
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
