LOS ANGELES (AP) – UCLA extended its perfect season with a dominant 65-52 victory over No. 8 Ohio State on Wednesday night, marking the school’s longest-ever winning streak at 22 games. The top-ranked Bruins are the only unbeaten team left in Division I, standing at 22-0, including a flawless 10-0 record in the Big Ten.
Lauren Betts led UCLA with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Gabriela Jaquez contributed 17 points. Kiki Rice added 12 points to the win, keeping the Bruins’ record-setting momentum alive.
Ohio State, despite trailing 30-24 at halftime, mounted a rally to tie the game at 44-44 early in the fourth quarter. However, UCLA responded with an explosive 19-1 run to close out the game. Jaquez was crucial during this stretch, scoring nine of the points, while Betts dominated the boards with 13 points and 10 rebounds by halftime.
The Buckeyes struggled with their shooting, finishing with a 29.4% shooting rate — their lowest of the season — and only managed 20 successful field goals out of 68 attempts. UCLA dominated the glass, out-rebounding Ohio State 13-2 in the final quarter.
Despite committing a season-high 23 turnovers, the Bruins’ strong defense and clutch plays helped them secure the victory. Next up, Ohio State will face No. 7 Southern California on Saturday, while UCLA travels to Oregon on Sunday.
