Undefeated UCLA Celebrates Playing at Home with Victory and Black excellence

Photo by Jevone Moore

Westwood, Ca – A noonday game to celebrate Black excellence on a Sunday, the second day in Black History month, Minnesota Golden Gophers visited Pauley Pavilion to face an uphill battle against the undefeated No.1 UCLA Lady Bruins with both teams’ rosters composed of Black excellence. Despite an explosive start, the Golden Gophers fizzled out, eventually falling, 79-53, handing Lady Bruins their 9th victory in the Big Ten Conference and 21st for the season.

Both teams traded baskets after the first quarter before UCLA ultimately got it rolling with their ball pressure defense and depth bench play. The Lady Bruins outscored Golden Gophers 46-25 in the second half, reassuring their home crowd they’re a number 1 team for a reason and defending home court after not having a home game in 31 days.

Betts being triple-teamed. Photo by Jevone Moore

“It is so good to be back in Pauley,’ Coach Cori Close said. “The reason we have not been here for over a month is because of what our great city has been going through and I think there has to be a sense of humility.”

Coach Close continued expressing humility with gratitude for all the people fighting to rebuild then shifting that gratitude to serving and coaching players like KiKi Rice as acknowledgement of Black excellence during this month.

“KiKi Rice’s elite work ethic has created a culture in our program that you feel left out if you’re not doing the extra work,” Coach Close acclaimed. “I am a really fortunate coach to be involved incredibly in the precious lives of the most diverse sport in college Athletics. Women’s basketball has been the most diverse sport in college Athletics for over a decade and 67% of those are Black women and today is about Black excellence but in the broader scope I think it’s how do you value someone and honor someone that’s different than you.” 

Junior forward Rice who scored 14 points off 6-8 shooting,  showcased not only her Black excellence but  her leadership by influence that her coach raved about being an example rather than having a boisterous voice as she took over the challenge to slow down the hot shooting of Golden Gophers’ Amaya Battle. 

Photo by Jevone Moore

Battle finished the first half with 17 points with efficient shooting, 8-10. For most of the game, Junior guard Londynn Jones and her went at each other starting off the game with each knocking down a 3-point bucket out the gate. But Battle got the best of Jones as Jones spent most of the game figuring out how to contain Battle before helping her team get a win.

Still Battle led all scorers with 21 points for the game but was limited to only four second -half points.

“Battle’s a great player and had a great game,” said Rice. Rice and junior center Lauren Betts both were in the same recruiting class as Battle along with forward Janiah Barker.

Photo by Jevone Moore

Though Betts was limited in scoring, yet she was able to contribute offensively, dishing out 11 assists to keep her team in position to earn another homecourt victory in conference play. 

“Lauren is so dominant and arguably the most dominant on both sides of the floor, ” Close said. She stepped up to the challenge and it speaks volumes to how dominant she’s been and how selfless she is to be able to facilitate for her team.“

Betts ended the game with six points, six rebounds, to help her team hold the Gophers to ten points in the third quarter, entering the fourth quarter with a 15 point lead after only leading by 5 at halftime. 

Photo by Jevone Moore

UCLA continued their run in the fourth quarter, improving their field goal percentage and outrebounding the Golden Gophers slightly to seal the win with 10 of 11 players tallying up points, led by Freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo, 15 points and five rebounds. Jones added 13 points.

UCLA returns back to Pauley to face off with No 8 Ohio State and Oregon before going against crosstown rival No. 4 USC.

UCLA Divine 9 at the game representing Black Excellence. Photo by Jevone Moore

No 4 USC Keeps Undefeated in Big Ten Play Despite Last Minute Lineup Change

Photo by Jevone Moore

Los Angeles, CA- Women of Troy were without their starting center and still able to out rebound despite a tough shooting night from their leading scorer to beat Minnesota, 82-69 at the Galen Center for their 8th straight home game win.

KiKi Iriafen appeared ready from the tunnel to pick up any slack for her missing Senior frontcourt teammate, Rayah Marshall, with almost recording double-digit rebounds by halftime. Adding back-to-back three-pointers to top off an 18-3 run before Minnesota forced a couple of turnovers to respond with their short run of 8 straight points at the end of the first quarter.

Photo by Jevone Moore

Inserting Clarice Akunwafo to matchup against Minnesota Golden Gophers’ Sophie Hart turned out to be a great call by coach Lindsay Gottlieb rather than going with a smaller lineup as Hart proved to be a tall task all game. 

“We didn’t know Rayah wasn’t going to play until this morning so I thought other people stepped up, finding different ways to win” Coach Gottlieb said while grappling about her team’s first half effort.”At the same time I think our standards are really high and we could have been cleaner defensively and offensively.”

Coach Gottlieb praised her freshmen for seizing their opportunity to play more minutes, particularly Kennedy Smith and Avery Powell, whose combined effort on both ends of the court  helped their team to never allow Minnesota to take a lead as they trailed the entire game. 

More team positivity displayed, when JuJu Watkins, got it going from the field, opening the second half with her only triple of the game. After going 0-10 in the first half, Watkins determined to fight perhaps road fatigue on a night when another opponent’s team defense seemed to concentrate solely on her to find a way to score and continue her streak of double digit scoring now in all 20 games.

“I thought her [JuJu] teammates really lifted her up, and the fact people are going to continue to give us open threes when she’s crowded and stuff, and we continue to knock them down as this is the second game I believe in a row we’ve made 11 threes, Gottlieb explained. “She is a very mentally tough human being and basketball player, who finds a way to figure it out.”

Photo by Jevone Moore

USC owned the third quarter just about putting the game away once freshman Avery Howell hit back to back threes for her third of the game to extend USC’s lead to 17. Howell was the third player to finish in double-digits for USC while Talia Von Oelhoffen started the game with scoring 8 points in the first half before finding herself limited due to foul trouble. 

“We had a week off but I honestly like working as a team to get better and what we need to do to grow, taking one day at a time, is most important,” Howell said.

Golden Gophers Hart’s solid post play resulted in 18 points, while Amaya Battle and Mallory Heyer contributed 14 and 17, respectively, to score in double-figures, pushing USC to play their starters almost the entire game. Iriafen, Smith and Watkins scored up into the final seconds of the game, to hold on to a double-digit scoring margin, continuing a 15 game winning streak, 9th Big 10 conference win.

Kiki Iraifen after making a three pointer. Photo by Jevone Moore

KiKi Iraifen led all scorers with 23 points and 11 rebounds, her seventh double-double, on an efficient shooting night, hitting 9-11, including 2 for 2 from beyond the arc, with 3-4 free throws. This is the second time that Iriafen and Watkins have recorded double-doubles in the same game. Watkins has made one 3-pointer and one block in the last ten games.

USC will hit the road for a pair of Big 10 conference games, first being against Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 2nd, which Iowa plans to retire their former player and current WNBA Fever player Caitlin Clark’s jersey. Next stop, Women of Troy will travel to Wisconsin to face the Badgers on Feb. 5. 

Bruins Take Control Early, Hold Off Trojans Late Push In Road Win

Photo by Jan Kim Lim, UCLA Athletics

Los Angeles, CA- UCLA picked up another big performance from Aday Mara as the Bruins dominated from nearly start to finish in the Crosstown Rivalry vs. USC. The Trojans’ late second half comeback wouldn’t be enough as the Bruins came out on top 82-76 on Monday night at the Galen Center.

The Bruins have now won five of their last seven games against the Trojans. UCLA enjoyed a productive start from Mara at the center position. Mara finished with a double-double, putting up 12 points and 11 rebounds, and five blocks. It’s the third straight game with Mara finishing with double-digit points as he fills in for the injured Tyler Bilodeau. 

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said Mara’s confidence grew as the game progressed, which helped after a slow start from the seven-foot-three Spanish center. 

Jan Kim Lim, UCLA Athletics

“The big thing with a young kid like him is that I had to tell the players to tell him to keep shooting. He missed a few early and he didn’t want to shoot after that. I’m making the team tell him in the time outs to keep shooting. They know he’s a scorer because they see him every day in practice,” Cronin said.

With the win, it extends UCLA’s win streak to four games as they continue to build up an NCAA tournament resume amidst tough matchups in conference play. 

“We just won two in a row on the road without our leading scorer. Not many teams in the country are going to win on the road in a rivalry game against a great coach, a heck of a team of older guys, without their leading scorer,” Cronin said. “Happy is an understatement. Different guys [stepped up] at different times.” 

Despite the loss, USC guard Wesley Yates III continues to shine in his extended role this season. The redshirt freshman saw his minutes slowly increase this season after Terrance Williams II suffered an injury in early December. Yates III had 19 points on 7-14 shooting from the field. 

“I have to find ways to impact the game without scoring. Rebounds, deflections, whatever my team needs to get the win. The work that I put in is showing, even when I wasn’t playing earlier in the season. Once I keep working, I’m going to keep playing better,” Yates said. 

UCLA jumped out to an early 16-9 lead within the first seven minutes of the first half. The Trojans would pull within a point after a Saint Thomas layup with 7:54 left, but UCLA would extend their lead back up to five points to close out the half. 

The beginning of the second half was dominated by the Bruins as UCLA enjoyed a comfortable double-digit lead for the first ten minutes. However, USC did not go down quietly and came back after facing a 15-point deficit in the second half. 

Yates III would go 1-2 at the line after a UCLA shooting foul to make the game 73-72 with 2:39 left to go.

UCLA rose to the occasion and went on a 13-4 run to close out the game in the final two minutes to escape the Galen Center with the win. 

Long Beach State Women’s Basketball Stages Epic Comeback for Thrilling Home Victory

Photo by Chanel Foster / fi360 News

Long Beach, CA- It was a tale of two halves though, as during the second half Long Beach State came back out of the locker rooms swinging. The team started to slowly take control, with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter, Long Beach re-took the lead after trailing almost the entire game, and they never looked back defeating Cal State Northridge Matadors 88-75.

Spearheaded by the tremendous play of forward Jada Crawshaw, she was tenacious on both sides of the court contributing 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Photo by Chanel Foster / fi360 News

“The key word tonight offensively was composure,” said senior Rachel Loobie.

Long Beach showed a lot of composure during that final stretch of the game, coming up big with defensive stops, and limiting the hot scoring Northridge to only 8 points in the 4th quarter.

“I feel like just going back to our principles, they came out strong in the first half, but our coaches gave us our regular principles and reminded us to come out strong and shoot our shots [in the second half],” said Guard Savannah Tucker who lead the team in scoring with 24 points, reflecting on the comeback after the game.

Photo by Chanel Foster / fi360 News

The night started off in Long Beach’s favor, as they won the opening tipoff and were first on the scoreboard. It was short lived however, as the Matadors quickly went on a run, taking advantage of Long Beach’s miscues to seize the lead and hold onto it into the halftime whistle. By the time the halftime buzzer rang, Long Beach found itself in a hole, down 45-32.

The win brings Long Beach record to 11-6 overall, and 7-1 in the Big West conference, and leaves them in second place on the table.

Photo by Chanel Foster / fi360 News

This dramatic showdown at home Long Beach State women’s basketball team showcasing their mental fortitude and resilience as they fought back from a big deficit to overcome Northridge. The victory makes it two in a row for Long Beach.

Long Beach returns to action on Saturday January 25th, as they host the Cal Poly Mustangs, and they look to carry over the momentum and make it 3 wins in a row and continue their quest for a championship.

USC Secures 14th Straight Win with Dominant Defense in Blowout Over Purdue 

USC Trojans vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 22, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

West Lafayette- The Lady Trojans of USC extended their winning streak to 14 games with a dominant 79-37 victory over the Purdue Lady Boilermakers in West Lafayette. Despite trailing at the end of the first quarter, USC’s lockdown defense and explosive offense fueled a commanding performance on their cold Midwest road trip. 

Purdue started strong, led by Destini Lombard’s eight points in the first quarter, helping the Boilermakers take a slim 16-15 lead. However, Lombard was held scoreless for the rest of the game, and Purdue never regained control after their brief first-quarter advantage. USC responded with an impressive 50-12 run over the next two quarters, including a nearly unprecedented 31-2 lockdown in the second quarter. 

USC Trojans vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 22, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

USC forward Kiki Iriafen contributed seven points before leaving the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter, but her absence did little to slow the Trojans. Freshman Avery Howell stepped up with a career-high 18 points, 10 of which came during the dominant second quarter. Howell connected on four of seven shots from beyond the arc, while JuJu Watkins added 16 points and Kennedy Smith chipped in with 12, hitting three of five from three-point range. 

The Lady Trojans’ defense was the story of the game, holding Purdue to just two points in the second quarter and limiting their offensive production throughout. Offensively, Watkins delivered electrifying moments, including a coast-to-coast play off a missed free throw by Purdue’s Jordan Poole that brought the crowd to its feet. Watkins showcased why she’s considered one of the top players in women’s college basketball. 

USC Trojans vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 22, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

After their decisive second quarter, USC coasted through the second half, maintaining control and cruising to victory. The Lady Trojans return home next to face a ranked Minnesota team in Big Ten action, aiming to extend their winning streak to 15 games. 

USC Trojans vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 22, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

Women of Troy’s Hot Win Streak Continues Versus Penn St Uplifting USC’s Community

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – 12 days into this new year, another week of wildfires in Southern California, and USC ignites crowd of local communities at Galen Center including Women of Troy alumni, en route a 12-game winning streak led by #12 JuJu Watkins’ blazing 35 points to beat Penn State, 95-73. 

“So many people have lost so much and we 100 percent recognize sports and Athletics are not bigger than those real-world things,“ Coach Gottlieb acknowledged her and her team’s appreciation plus approach during wildfires. “At the same what is important at this time is community and the feeling of it. “

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Going by numbers, it appeared to be JuJu’s community day as she finished the first half of the game with 22 points. Watkins, one of the few local products on the team’s roster shared her personal impact from LA County’s current crisis.

“This week has been hard for LA and for me too,” JuJu explained. “We’ve been doing the best we can to stay locked in and have as much as positivity as possible because this [too] shall pass.”

Watkins encouraged by her faith, ended on an efficient shooting night, 13-15 from the field, 7-9 for free throws, and 2-3 for triples. Filling up the stat sheet, she added a double digit rebounding effort, along with five steals, and 3 apiece in assists as well as blocks. Showcasing an all-around effort for her fans fighting on in midst of local climate chaos. 

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Though it was announced this past weekend of another Big 10 Conference opponent, Northwestern, forgoing their west coast travels scheduled this upcoming week for both matches against USC and UCLA, Penn State opted to play this week in both schools, respectively. Penn State remaining winless in conference play after succumbing to USC, competed much of the first half while overcoming early fouls. Watkins nor her teammates offered any sympathy for Penn St. resuming the second half where they left off, on an 18-0 run, with a layup by JuJu after a steal mid-court to continue piling up points.

“I’m very prayerful and JuJu along with Coach G kind of touched on it, but if we can give people some way of escape and put smiles on their faces by playing for two hours, then I’m super grateful to do that,” Senior Graduate transfer, KiKi Iriafen, said.

Iriafen scored 28 points, shooting efficiently as JuJu, though mostly midrange shots and 4-6 from the charity stripe. The Lady Lions desperately had no answer for Women of Troy’s Batman and Robin combination despite the remaining team’s shooting woes, hitting only 12 field goals off 31 percent.  Despite USC as a team misfiring offensively, their team’s defense and transition game kept them in comfortable distance as they forced 21 turnovers by the Lady Lions while holding them under 40 percent shooting.

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Lady Lions were led by Freshman guard Talayah Walker’s impressive 18-point outing, her second consecutive double-digit scoring performance along with five rebounds and four assists.  However, USC crushed any dreams of a final quarter run or comeback when freshman guard Kennedy Smith opened the fourth quarter with a scoring dagger for her fifth point of the game.

Nine Women of Troy scored to sum up the team’s 95 points while only JuJu and KiKi reached double digits to continue their 17-game streak of both scoring double figures. Kayleigh Heckel came off the bench and scored 9 points. In addition, Talia Von Oelhoffen contributed 6 points in 22 minutes.

USC returns to action back on the road next week, headed to Bloomington to resume Big 10 conference play versus Indiana on Jan. 19, following, Purdue on Jan. 22. This will mark USC’s first-ever visits to the Lady Hoosiers and Boilermakers.

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Ohio State’s Defense Bucks the Texas Longhorns’ Late Offense Push to the National Championship Game

Photo by Shane Kirkpatrick / Marin Media

“The story of this team is yet to be told,” Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day said after the Buckeye’s 28-14 Good Year Cotton Bowl win over the Texas Longhorns on Friday night. He’s correct. Ohio State’s 2024 storybook season still has one chapter left before publication, the National Championship game against Notre Dame.

Friday was Ohio State and Texas’s fourth meeting overall, and it featured two of the top three defenses in college football. Fittingly enough, Ohio State’s defense, the top-ranked in the nation, sealed the win in a back-and-forth heavyweight match.

Photo by Shane Kirkpatrick / Marin Media

Texas began the night with the ball, and on a crucial third down, Matthew Golden snatched a one-handed grab from Quinn Ewers. However, Texas couldn’t convert a 4th and 3 at the Buckeyes’ 36, and Ohio State turned Texas over on downs in their first defensive possession. Following the defensive stop, Ohio State moved the ball on a 10-play and 64-yard touchdown drive aided by two third-down conversions. Quinshon Judkins capped the drive, bulldozing the Texas defense on a 9-yard power run.

After the Buckeyes forced Texas to punt around midfield, Ohio State moved the ball again inside Texas territory. The drive stalled because of a TreVeyon Henderson unsportsmanlike penalty, eventually resulting in an Ohio State punt.

The second quarter featured a total of seven straight punts, including Ohio State punting on the first play of the quarter. Ohio State committed three penalties in two of those possessions, stalling each of those drives. A short Joe McGuire punt had Texas start at their 41. On a 4th and 1, the Longhorns turned to Arch Manning, who took it to the right side to pick up the first down. Ewers elevated a pass to Jaydon Blue in the left-side corner of the end zone to even the game up with around 30 seconds left in the half.

“I felt like we were stopping ourselves on offense with penalties. That was the conversation that we had on the sideline and in the locker room at halftime. We got to stop hurting ourselves with penalties,” Buckeyes coach Day said.

On the first play of the next possession, Will Howard found Henderson a screen, and TreVeyon busted it down the field for a quick 75-yard score, canceling out the previous Longhorns score. That one play equaled 2/3 of Ohio State’s second-quarter total yards (the previous 11 plays picked up 38 yards), and the Buckeyes led 14-7 at the break.

Photo by Shane Kirkpatrick / Marin Media

“I don’t think anyone thought that that was going for 75 yards,” Howard smirked. “That was to set something up. That’s kind of a drive starter in that two minute scenario and if you gt a positive gain, [then] we can continue to work out two minute drill. Carson Hinzman made some unbelievable blocks down the field, the receivers stayed on their guys, and [Henderson took off.”

To start the second half, Texas’ David Gbenda jumped a pass route intended for Jeremiah Smith, keeping the Longhorns’ streak of 24 straight games with at least one takeaway, the longest active FBS streak. The Longhorns couldn’t capitalize on the turnover, punting on a five-play drive.

On the next possession, Texas moved the ball with four third-down conversions. On the fourth third-down conversion, Ewers found Blue again a few yards short of the end zone. Blue made a move and lunged to the end zone to even the game up at 14.  

Ohio State dominated the first half of the fourth quarter. They drove down on a 16-play drive, including a fourth-down conversion on a keeper by Howard, who tripped under his own feet. The Buckeyes later scored by Quinshon Judkins on a drive that took eight minutes off the clock and put Ohio State up 21-14.

On Texas’ following possession, Ewers found Golden for 27 yards, putting the Longhorns inside the red zone. Thanks to a couple of Ohio State pass interference penalties, they were at the Ohio State 1-yard line. Unfortunately for Texas, Ohio State plugged the middle up, and their penetration pushed Quintrevion Wisner back to the eight on a second-and-goal play call.

“When we got down to the one, we went to a heavy package, which is Jerrick’s package. We ran it, and we obviously didn’t get much movement at all. And we had a plan to try to get the ball on the edge when we got down there. They went to big people. I can’t quite tell. It was on the far side where it got leaky. But that’s one of those plays, if you block it all right, you get in the end zone, and we didn’t, and we lose quite a bit of yardage,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said regarding the first and second down playcalls.

On 4th down, Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, Ewers’s former roommate, forced a fumble and returned it 83 yards to put the game out of reach and clinch Ohio State’s trip to Atlanta for the National Championship Game.

I felt [Sawyer],” Ewers said “I started drifting away. I thought I was going to be able to get the ball off before he got there.”

For the Longhorns, it’s been two consecutive seasons since Texas fell short of a national title. In 2023, it was the 37-31 loss to Washington in the Sugar Bowl, and in 2024-2025, it was the 28-14 loss against Ohio State.

“All the work that we put in, being in the final four back-to-back years and coming up short two years, it’s tough,” Ewers said. “But I think that’s how life is. You’re going to get punched in the face in some hard moments.”

For Ohio State, they will go for their ninth national title and their first in ten years against the Fighting Irish, and what coach Day said multiple times after Friday’s win, “It’s not finished.”

UCLA’s Second-Half Collapse Leads to 94-75 Loss Against No. 24 Michigan

Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News

Westwood, CA- Despite holding a second-half lead against the No. 24 team in the country for their first Big Ten home game of 2025, the UCLA men’s basketball team dropped their first game of the new year to Michigan on Tuesday night. 

The Bruins couldn’t overcome their second half offensive woes in the 94-75 loss to Michigan. The Wolverines used a 36-point performance from center Vladislav Goldin to climb to the 19-point win. 

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin was appalled by the Bruins effort and was brutally honest with his current feelings about his team.  

“Obviously they shot the ball well, but we’re soft. We’re too soft to play hard enough. It’s a five-point game and Kobe Johnson lets a guy take the ball from him – same thing with Sebastian Mack…So just don’t tell me you want to win,” Cronin said. “We’re soft, aside from, to be fair, they have a unique skillset and the way they shoot the ball. But we’re soft.” 

Four out of five starters for the Wolverines finished with double-digit points, including the game-high from Goldin. 

UCLA had another big game from forward Tyler Bilodeau. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists as he finished shooting 8-15 from the field. The solid offensive night didn’t save him from Cronin commenting on Bilodeau’s defensive performance.

“To start the game, Tyler Bilodeau gave up 12 points. Two screens, he didn’t say a word, and he got dunked on two times,” Cronin added. 

Cronin said the Bruins’ mindset has been part of the reason the team has lost their last three of four games.

“So the truth of it is that it’s really hard to coach people that are delusional. The hungry dog gets the bone. We’ve got guys who think they’re way better than they are, they’re nice kids, but they’re completely delusional about who they are,” Cronin said. “The problem is that right now I’m frustrated with my players and my staff and it’s been this way all year with this team.” 

UCLA guard Sebastian Mack had one of his best offensive games of the season. He scored 17 points, his third-highest point total he’s scored this season. Mack tacked on seven rebounds in the losing effort. 

The first eight minutes of the game belonged to the Wolverines. UCLA fell behind quickly 18-6 as Michigan blitzed the Bruins’ defense to start. The Bruins couldn’t get much going on the offense end as the Wolverines jumped out to a 28-13 lead a few minutes later. 

UCLA closed out the first half by closing the lead to ten points. They rode that momentum into the second half where they eventually overcame Michigan and took the lead. 

The Bruins took a 55-51 lead with 14:12 left in the second half, but saw their lead dissipate as quickly as it came. Michigan would close out the game on a 43-20 run in the final 14 minutes of the game to overtake the Bruins’ small lead and come away with the win comfortably.

UCLA travels to Maryland on Jan. 10 to take on the Terrapins. The game will be broadcast on FOX and tipoff is at 5 p.m.

No.1 UCLA Dominates Purdue, Extends Streak to 15

UCLA Bruins vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 07, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

West Lafayette, IN- The top-ranked UCLA Lady Bruins showed no signs of jet lag as they extended their winning streak to 16 games and secured their fifth conference victory with an 83-49 rout of Purdue in the newly reformed Big Ten. Junior Lauren Betts led the charge with 13 second-half points, finishing with a game-high 17 to power the Bruins to another dominant performance. 

UCLA started strong, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range and over 65% overall in the first quarter. Their scorching performance propelled the Lady Bruins to a commanding 29-13 lead, setting the tone in their first Big Ten conference matchup against Purdue. 

UCLA Bruins vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 07, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

The Lady Bruins showcased why they hold the nation’s top ranking, overpowering the Lady Boilermakers with a dominant 40-12 advantage in the paint and stifling defense that held Purdue to just 33% shooting. Balanced scoring propelled the Bruins to a commanding 25-point lead by halftime, leaving no doubt about their superiority. With easy buckets and relentless defensive pressure, the Lady Bruins turned the game into a lopsided affair, cementing their reputation as the team to beat. 

The Lady Bruins’ depth was on full display as four players scored in double figures, allowing Coach Cori Close to rest her starters. Lauren Betts led the charge with 17 points, including a quick 13 in the second half, while Timea Gardiner chipped in an efficient 16 points in just 16 minutes, shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and 6-for-8 overall. Kiki Rice dazzled with a smooth Euro step to split two Purdue defenders, finishing with 11 points, as did Janiah Barker. With contributions across the roster, the Lady Bruins showcased why they’re a force to be reckoned with. 

UCLA Bruins vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 07, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

Destini Lombard paced the Lady Boilermakers with 16 points, while McKenna Layden and Rashunda Jones chipped in 8 points each. Despite their efforts, the team struggled to find offensive rhythm against the top-ranked Lady Bruins. 

The Lady Bruins return home for a three-game stretch against Northwestern, Penn State, and Baylor, aiming to maintain momentum in a tough Big Ten conference. With four teams ranked in the top 10, the competitive slate promises to test the Bruins as they prepare for the Big Tournament in March. These matchups will provide a crucial opportunity to solidify their standing and sharpen their edge against elite competition. 

UCLA Bruins vs Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 07, 2025. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

Texas State outlasts North Texas for second straight First Responder Bowl Victory

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 3: North Texas defensive back Evan Jackson’s (2) tackle puts Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud (3) during the fourth quarter of the First Responder Bowl against North Texas at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

Dallas, TX- Three hundred seventy-four days ago, the Texas State Bobcats celebrated their first bowl win in school history. Friday, Texas State repeated with a 30-28 hard-fought victory against another Texas school, the North Texas Mean Green. It was the 40th meeting between Texas State and North Texas, but their first since 1994. With both of Texas State’s bowl wins coming at Gerald J Ford Stadium at SMU, Dallas is almost a second home for the Bobcats.

“We love Dallas, and we recruit Dallas hard,” Texas State head coach GJ Kinne said. “I’m from here, and I played a bowl game here. It’s a special place for sure.”

Kinne also said that in last year’s First Responder Bowl win vs. Rice, he hugged his grandma and grandpa, but only his grandpa was in the stands this year.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 3: Texas State head coach GJ Kinne celebrates the Bobcats 30-28 win over North Texas and back-to-back First Responder Bowl titles at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

“It’s one of those deals where I was thinking about her tonight, and it was a special one,” Kinne said.

It was another special night for Texas State and its fans. They witnessed a see-saw back-and-forth game showcasing two of the top five offenses in college football, averaging over 470 yards a game.

North Texas’ opening possession resulted in a one-first down punt, but Texas State drove the football down the field in a 43-yard opening field goal by Mason Shipley. The Mean Green answered by marching down the field in 80 yards using the arm of Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker threw a dart over the middle of the field to Miles Coleman as the impact on the tackle drove Coleman to the end zone and gave North Texas a 7-3 lead midway in the opening quarter.

It was Mestemaker’s first college start as a freshman, and Mestemaker hadn’t made a start since the 9th grade at Vandergrift High School in Austin, Texas.

“He came in poised,” Mean Green head coach Eric Morris said about Mestemaker. “He made the decision he needed to make and led us down the field on the scoring drive. I always had the confidence in him, so the offense never wavered from him.”

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 3: Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) motions to the student section after his 73-yard touchdown seals the win for the Boobcats and the game MVP award during the fourth quarter of the First Responder Bowl against North Texas at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

The Bobcats came back on a third down on their following possession, with a 70-yard completion from Jordan McCloud to Jaden Williams downed inside the one-yard line. Texas State attempted to run it in on back-to-back plays, but they were ruled short of the end zone and ended up kicking a 21-yard field goal. Replays appeared that the runner broke the plane on both runs, but the officials deemed the ball didn’t break the goal line.

“I would say two of those were touchdowns,” McCloud said with a smile.

North Texas answered the scoring drive with a nine-play touchdown drive. The drive featured a 17-yard run by Kiefer Sibley and a 27-yard completion from Mestemaker to Damon Ward Jr. A targeting penalty on Texas State’s Justin Harris assisted in the drive, and on the first play of the second quarter, Mestemaker found Landon Sides in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown, extending the North Texas lead to 14-6.

The Bobcats’ following possession featured the same rhythm, the offense moving down the field. However, it was another drive that featured a missed chance in the end zone. McCloud found an opening for Joey Hobert, but it appeared the sunlight played a factor, and Hobert dropped a potential touchdown. Texas State settled with another Shipley field goal (47 yards).

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 3: Texas State kicker Mason Shipley (36) watches as his first of three first half field goals sails through the uprights during the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

Texas State marched down in 10 plays and 78 yards on the next Bobcats possession. It capped off with a floating pass from McCloud to Williams with a Mean Green defender all over Williams. North Texas moved the ball 66 yards down the field inside the red zone thanks to three Miles Coleman catches for 44 yards. However, Mestemaker threw a dart to Texas State’s Manny Nunnery with a minute left in the half for the game’s first turnover.

While the Bobcats couldn’t capitalize at the end of the half on the turnover, they stormed out of halftime with a near-7-minute drive that went 13 plays and 75 yards. The drive included a third-down conversion and a fourth-down conversion, passing up on a 46-yard field goal. Lincoln Pare needed one touch to cap off the goal-line score, powering up the middle for six and giving Texas State their first two-score lead of the game, 23-14.

North Texas threatened with a 57-yard completion to Ward, but the Mean Green fell a yard short on a 4th and 3 at the Bobcats 26, turning it over on downs. Texas State did what you wanted: up two scores to start the fourth, eat up the clock, and move the ball. However, McCloud threw it inside the North Texas 30 to Mean Green’s Evan Jackson. After the takeaway, North Texas drove the ball to the Bobcats’ 23 on a Makenzie McGill catch and run of 29 yards, but a blindside hit to Mestemaker from Jordan Polk caused a fumble recovered by Kalil Alexander. Texas State returned the favor as McCloud fumbled on the sack, forced by Fatafehi Vailea and recovered by Breylon Charles. The Bobcats fumble resulted in a McGill rushing touchdown set up by a 42-yard completion to Sides, setting up the Mean Green at the 1. North Texas pulled to within 2, down 23-21.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 3: North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) makes a pass during the first half of the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

Things got wackier. In three plays, Pare broke loose for 73 yards down the field in a matter of one minute to negate North Texas’ previous scoring possession.

“They were just loading the box,” Pare said on the breakaway run. “Anything I could get to just to get to the second level, I knew that I could win. The [offensive] line did a great job, washed everybody down, and I had one guy to beat.”

However, Mestemaker showcased his legs with a 70-yard sprint down the sideline, and in a matter of ninety seconds, both teams traded haymakers as the Mean Green pulled back, down 30-28.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 3: North Texas tight end Victor Aderungboye (19) gets airborne for a pass auls in a 16 yard touchdown pass during the second quarter of the First Responder Bowl against Texas State at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

[Mestemaker] is athletic [and] he’s big,” Bobcats coach Kinne said about the Mean Green freshman quarterback. “You saw the run at the end of the game. I think it’s going to be tough to beat that kid out moving forward. He’s a really good player.”

Texas State moved the ball and ended up punting, but it pinned North Texas inside the 10-yard line. The Mean Green couldn’t advance as Texas State sealed the win with its defense.

Texas State has gone back-to-back seasons with eight wins and a bowl victory. Senior Jordan McCloud feels it’s just the beginning of the Texas State Bobcats program.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 3: Texas State receiver Jaden Williams (0) explodes for a big gain during the first half of the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on January 3, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/Fi360 News)

“It’s a lot of talent on this team,” McCloud said. “Everybody learns how to figure it out, stick together, and handle adversity. I think this program is going to be really unstoppable.”