The Washington Huskies (19-8, 9-7 B1G) were defeated handily by #2-ranked UCLA (26-1, 16-0 B1G), 67-82, on Thursday night in a game that the Bruins took control of early.
The Bruins were bigger, deeper, and ruthlessly efficient in the paint, and quickly seized control with a blend of size and poise.
The Huskies never solved UCLA’s 6’7″ center Lauren Betts, who finished with 23‑points (11‑for‑15) on 73.3% shooting with eight rebounds and two blocks.
Meanwhile, UW tried to dictate tempo with ball movement and spacing, but needed more efficiency, more perimeter shot‑making, and defensive discipline to hang around.
Washington finished the night with 17 assists on 25 made field goals, a testament to their commitment to sharing the ball.
However, as the game unfolded, the winning margins where big games (and championships) are usually decided—rebounding, second‑chance points, and interior defense—tilted heavily toward UCLA.
STARTING FIVE
1st Quarter – Pressure and UW’s Missed Scoring Chances
In the first quarter, the tone was set early.
Washington opened with the first bucket to briefly grab a 2–0 edge.
However, UCLA 6’7″ centerpiece Lauren Betts established herself inside with efficient finishes and an early block that symbolized the defensive wall the Huskies would face all night.
From a numbers standpoint, the opening period revealed the uphill struggle that UW faced ahead.
The Huskies shot just 33.3% from the field and 20% from three, struggling to convert clean looks into points.
Meanwhile, UCLA shot 46.7% overall and 40% from deep,
The Bruins’ ability to score efficiently while limiting UW’s rhythm created an early double‑digit lead. Washington tried to settle into its offense, but UCLA’s defensive pressure and superior rebounding made every Husky possession feel crucial.
In the first, Avery Howell led UW with four points; while Sayvia Sellers and Hannah Stines added three points each; and freshman forward Brynn McGaughy added two points.
At the end of now, the Huskies trailed the Bruins, 12-22.
2nd Quarter – UW Adjusts and Responds
To their credit, the Huskies responded in the second quarter with better execution and shot selection.
Washington improved to 42.9% shooting from the field, even though they continued to struggle from three-point range –20% from beyond the arc again.
UW moved the ball more freely and began to find pockets in UCLA’s defense—especially through high‑low actions and off‑ball cuts.
Senior 6’5″ center Yulia Grabovskaia gave the Dawgs an unexpected spark with a team-leading six points in the period. Brynn McGaughy added four more; while Sellers contributed three points; and Howell and Teagan Brown added two points each.
Yet, even during UW’s improved stretch the Bruins shot 52.6% from the field in the quarter, even without hitting a three. Betts went on a personal 6–2 run to open the frame, finishing the half with 14 points.
Washington closed the second period on a 12–6 scoring run, cutting a 19‑point deficit down to a more hopeful and manageable 13-point deficit, 29-42.
Still, Washington outscored the Bruins by only three in the period, a small victory that still underscored how thin UW’s margin for error was.
3rd Quarter – McGaughy Breaks Out, UW Battles to Stay Close
Coming out of halftime, Washington desperately needed a spark to stay in the game; and they got it in the form of 6’3″ freshman forward Brynn McGaughy.
McGaughy played her best offensive stretch of her debut season by pouring in 10 third‑quarter points on a mix of three-pointers, drives, and confident mid‑range looks.
Overall, following McGaughy’s lead, UW shot 46.7% overall and an impressive 42.9% from three-point range, finally matching some of UCLA’s offensive energy.
Every time UCLA appeared ready to pull away and bury them, Washington answered with composure—often through McGaughy’s freshman fearlessness and Sellers’ playmaking.
Still, the Bruins continued to subtly extend their edge by shooting 50% from the field overall and 33.3%, countering each Husky push; while Betts delivered six of UCLA’s first eight points of the third period.
Sayvia Sellers added three points, while Howell, Grabovskaia, and Chloe Briggs each added in two points, keeping the Huskies within striking distance on the scoreboard.
Despite the Huskies’ best quarter to that point, they still trailed 48-63 heading into the fourth.
4th Quarter – Efficient Dawgs but Unstoppable Bruins
In the final quarter, the Washington’s offense finally hit high gear.
The Dawgs shot 53.8% overall and 50% (5 for 10) from three-point range, finally showcasing the efficiency and knockdown deep range shooting they’ve leaned on all season.
Avery Howell exploded for nine points in the period, attacking with a veteran’s poise. Sellers added five points more; Brynn McGaughy contributed three points, and Elle Ladine finally joined the scoring column with two points.
Yet, as efficient as UW became, it was too late as UCLA simply shifted into another offensive stratosphere.
The Bruins shot a blistering 70% from the field, by continuing to lean on their interior dominance and balanced scoring.
Each made shot by the Huskies was answered almost immediately, preventing any real late‑game drama.
The Huskies continued to move the ball and knock down perimeter shots until the horn. But the gap created by UCLA’s dominant rebounding and paint-scoring was to substantial, and the Huskies were defeated 67-82 by the Bruins.
The Winning Margins: Rebounding, Paint Points, and Turnovers
The most telling stats came on the glass and in the paint.
UCLA outrebounded Washington 37–20, including a crushing 13–5 advantage on the offensive boards. UCLA’s second chance scoring opportunities dominated UW’s own second chance efforts, 21–2, a single category that virtually decided the competitive ceiling of the game.
Likewise, in points-in-the-paint scoring, the Bruins imposed their will, dominating with 48 points versus 24 points-in-the-paint for UW
The turnover battle was better than UW’s recent games, but still tilted slightly toward UCLA’s favor: Washington committed 15 turnovers to UCLA’s 14. Yet the Bruins converted their takeaways into 19 points, while the Huskies managed 12 points off UCLA miscues.
Notably, both teams recorded 8 steals apiece, evidence that the Dawgs did manage to disrupt UCLA’s offensive rhythm at times.
From an efficiency standpoint, the Huskies actually held their own from three-point range. UW shot 37% from deep on 27 attempts, compared to UCLA’s 27% on only 15 attempts. The Bruins were limited to just four made threes, one of their lowest totals this season.
Ultimately, however, UCLA’s overwhelming interior efficiency and second‑chance scoring overshadowed UW’s limited defensive success.
UW WBB Huskies Player of the Game – Brynn McGaughy
Brynn McGaughy was the only Washington player that raised their level of play against the Bruins and delivered a performance that should resonate with UW fans.
McGaughy’s 19 points on 53.8% shooting marked a new Big Ten high and included a career‑best three made-threes (75% from three; 3 for 4).
