Clearing the bench early allowed UCLA to rest starters in 40-point win

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UCLA's Bench Steals the Show as Bruins Cruise to 40-Point Victory Over Rutgers

In a lopsided affair at Pauley Pavilion, the UCLA women's basketball team used its reserves to great effect, logging significant playing time for the bench players in a 40-point blowout of Rutgers. The victory showcased the growth and development of several key reserve players, including freshman forward Sienna Betts.

Betts continued to make an impact on the court, notching 11 points and matching her sister Lauren's output for the first time at the college level. Her array of power moves around the basket caught the attention of head coach Cori Close, who praised the young player's development. "I really trust her as a learner," Close said. "You can coach her really hard, and that puts her in situations where she can grow faster."

Other reserve players also made their mark on the game, with Angela Dugalic contributing eight points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block, while Lena Bilic sank two 3-pointers. Guard-forward Megan Grant provided her usual relentless effort down the stretch.

The Bruins' reliance on reserves was largely due to load management, with leading scorer Kiki Rice and other starters receiving significant minutes in a blowout situation. "Regardless of the team or their record, we need to come out with intensity and treat each moment the same," Rice said. Close also highlighted the importance of finding consistency against weaker opponents.

The game itself was a foregone conclusion from the start, with UCLA surging into a 26-6 lead by the end of the first quarter. Rutgers struggled to keep pace, ultimately falling to a 40-point defeat. The Bruins' victory marked their fourth straight win in Big Ten play and set them up for a crucial stretch on the road against Michigan and Michigan State.

For Close and her team, the outcome is relatively less significant than the lessons they can take away from the game. As the Bruins look to sweep the trip and potentially finish with an unbeaten conference record, the focus shifts to consistency and intensity in their next games.
 
Man, UCLA's bench is on fire right now 🚒💥 I mean, Sienna Betts is looking like a total baller, and it's awesome to see her growth as a player. The fact that Cori Close is giving her the playing time shows she trusts her ability to learn and adapt. And Angela Dugalic's all-around game is just incredible - she's got the stats, the energy, and the hustle. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we've got depth, let's use it." And honestly, it makes me wanna watch more college hoops 🏀👀 The thing that's getting to me though, is how consistent can these guys be? I mean, they need to bring that same intensity against tougher opponents. Can they keep this up? Only time will tell 🤔
 
UCLA's bench is literally the real MVP 🤣. I mean, who needs starters when you've got a team of superstars on the bench?! Sienna Betts is killing it, 11 points and power moves for days 💪. And let's be real, load management is just code for "we're gonna win by 40 no matter what" 🤦‍♀️. The fact that they made some key reserves play significant minutes without breaking a sweat says everything about their depth and talent. Now, can we talk about how Rutgers got destroyed 😂? Guess when you face the Bruins, you might as well just throw in the towel from the start!
 
Ugh, just saw that UCLA's bench was SO dominant against Rutgers 🤦‍♀️🏀. Like, Sienna Betts is a total baller now 🤯. But you know what's not cool? The fact that the starters only played like 20-25 minutes due to load management 😴. It's always gonna be a bit dodgy when coaches prioritize bench time over actual game experience...and who knows how they'll perform against real opponents later on 🤔.
 
OMG, UCLA's bench is like a POWERHOUSE!!! 🤩 I mean, Sienna Betts is literally killing it out there! 11 points and making those sick moves around the basket? girl crushes it! 😍 And Angela Dugalic is no slouch either! her stats are insane, 8 points, 7 rebounds, and a block? yessss! 💪 Coach Cori Close knows what's up, she's really onto something with these reserve players. load management or not, they're making the most of their minutes 🚀
 
I'm not convinced about this load management thing 🤔. They're playing bench players all the time, like what's wrong with giving them a break when they need it? It feels like they're trying to prolong their careers or something 😒. And don't even get me started on the game itself – it was basically over in the first quarter. I mean, where's the challenge? 🤷‍♀️

And have you seen the stats for this Kiki Rice girl? 11 points, but she only got significant minutes because they were trying to blow out a bad team 😴. She's not even going to be as effective against some of these other teams that actually care about winning 🔥. Mark my words, when they face someone who can give them a run for their money, Kiki Rice is gonna get exposed 🤦‍♀️.

I know some people are hyping up this team's bench, but I think it's just a bunch of hype 🙄. I mean, what sets them apart from any other team? 😎
 
The bench crew at UCLA are killin' it right now 🤩! I mean, you gotta love seein' young players like Sienna Betts come up big for the team. She's got some serious skills around the basket 😎. And that coach Cori Close is spot on, she knows how to bring out the best in her players.

The fact that they're relying on their reserves a bit this season just shows that UCLA's got depth and talent pouring out of every pore 💪. And you can tell those starters are takin' it easy with all this load management 🤷‍♀️. Still, it's great to see the Bruins dominatin' games like they are, especially against teams like Rutgers who are just tryin' to keep up 🏃‍♀️.

For me, what really matters here is how the team is gonna carry that momentum into their next few games, especially those big ones on the road. Can they maintain this intensity and consistency? That's what I'm watchin' closely 👀.
 
🤔 UCLA's bench has been looking really strong lately, and it's awesome to see those reserve players making a big impact on the court 🏀. I think it's great that Coach Close is giving them more playing time and letting them develop their skills - it shows she trusts her team and wants to see them grow 💪. Plus, Sienna Betts is just so exciting to watch with all those power moves around the basket 🎯! The Bruins are really showing they've got this conference thing under control, but I think it's still about staying focused and bringing that intensity every game, no matter who they're facing 🔥.
 
I gotta say, this UCLA game was like a prime example of how a team that's got depth can just dominate without having to rely on their top players all the time 🤯. I mean, load management is a good strategy, but it also shows that Coach Close and her team are thinking about the bigger picture here - they're not just focusing on winning games, they're building for consistency down the line.

And can we talk about how this speaks to the current NCAA system? It's all about giving top programs an advantage with their bench depth, while smaller teams struggle to keep up 🤦‍♀️. I'm not saying it's fair or anything, but it raises some interesting questions about what we're seeing in college hoops right now.

For me, though, the real story here is how UCLA's coaching staff is using data and analytics to inform their decisions - whether it's playing Sienna Betts more minutes or finding ways to keep the ball moving down the court 📊. That kind of forward thinking is what sets top programs apart from the rest.
 
omg I'm loving how UCLA's bench is killing it rn 🤩 these reserve players are bringing the heat! Sienna Betts is a total star in the making 💫 she's only a freshman but she's already showing some serious skills. And Angela Dugalic, girl, you're on fire 🔥 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals... I need more of this! 😆

and can we talk about how UCLA's coaching staff is doing it right? giving the bench players a chance to shine and it's paying off big time. Cori Close is a genius 👏 she knows just what to do to get her team ready for whatever comes next.

anyway, 40-point blowout? yeah, I'm here for it 💥 let's keep that momentum going and see if UCLA can sweep this road trip! 🚀
 
🤔 so i think ucla's bench steal show is a good thing? like they're using their reserve players to get rest for the starters and still getting some big contributions from them... sienna betts is looking pretty solid, esp with her power moves 🔄. but at the same time, it does make me wonder if ucla is building for a more sustainable future or just resting on laurels because they're so dominant 💪. what do you think?
 
omg ucla's bench is literally killing it right now 🤯‍♀️💥 sienna betts is lowkey my new favorite player she's got some serious moves around the basket and it's so cool to see her growth as a player... Coach cori close is really wise in letting those reserve players shine, it's like they're giving them these opportunities to prove themselves and now they're reaping the benefits 💪🏼 anyway, this win might not be super significant, but i love how ucla is focusing on finding that consistency against weaker opponents... can't wait to see what's next for the bruis 😎
 
omg this UCLA bench is straight fire 💥😂 i mean sienna betts is a beast on the court already she's got game like her sister lauren too 🤩 gotta love cori close's coaching style tho, letting those subs play and it's amazing to see them kill it too 👏 angela dugalic's stats are wild btw 8pts, 7reb, 2sts & a block? that's some next level stuff 💪🔥
 
I'm loving how UCLA's bench came through for them tonight 🤩. It's awesome to see Sienna Betts getting more playing time and showing off her skills – she's got some serious moves around the basket 🌈! And I'm not surprised that Coach Close is praising her development, girl's been on fire lately 🔥.

But what really gets me is how they're using load management to their advantage. I mean, who needs to burn out those starters when you can just let them rest and bring in fresh blood? It's all about finding that balance between rest and results 🤝.

And I love how Coach Close is emphasizing the importance of intensity and consistency, even against weaker opponents. That's some real wisdom right there 💡. Can't wait to see what they do next on their road trip – hopefully they can keep this momentum going and finish with an unbeaten conference record 🎉!
 
omg I'm dyin' over this bench steal 🤯 UCLA's got some serious depth and it's so cool to see them utilize their reserves like that! Sienna Betts is literally on fire 🔥 and I love how coach Cori Close trusts her as a learner 💡. It's all about finding consistency, even when you're crushing your opponents 40 points 🤯💪. The game itself was kinda predictable but who cares when the Bruins are winning like that? 😂 They're looking good for an unbeaten conference record and I'm hyped to see what they do next! 💥
 
omg 🤯 i love how UCLA's bench was able to shine in this one! it's clear that coach Close has been doing a great job of developing her reserve players - sienna betts is looking like a total rockstar! 💥 i mean, 11 points and all those power moves around the basket? goals 🤩

and you know what's even better than just winning? seeing your team execute game plan to perfection 😎. it sounds like Close has been drilling into her players that intensity and consistency are key, no matter who they're playing against.

i'm also loving the "load management" angle here - it makes sense that they'd want to rest their starters in a blowout situation. but at the same time, it's awesome to see all those reserve players get some serious playing time and make their mark on the game 🤝.

anyway, i'm hyped for this team's next games! 💪
 
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