On Friday, the Washington Huskies (21-10, 10-8 Big Ten) were defeated 60-78 by the Big Ten Tournament’s No. 1 seed (the #2-nationally ranked) UCLA Bruins (29-1, 18-0 Big Ten).
UW arrived with momentum from a statement second round win over USC and the quiet belief that their guard-heavy attack and toughness could rattle the top-seeded Bruins — and the Dawgs proved they were not just a speed bump to one of the nation’s elite teams.
From the opening tip, Washington dictated pace and physicality. The Huskies’ early defensive focus on Lauren Betts and UW’s shot-making energized the Dawgs’ upset efforts.
The narrative out of the gate was clear: the Huskies were not intimidated, and they were fully prepared to grind with the Bruins in a physical, possession-by-possession game.
Ultimately, however, Betts finished with 26 points and 8 rebounds, punishing Washington inside, while UCLA point guard Kiki Rice capped a 18-point, 6-assist performance with timely drives and free throws.
The overall numbers told the story: UCLA finished at 54% from the field, including 52 points in the paint and 36 of those inside buckets coming after halftime. Washington, despite a respectable 45% shooting night and a 32-52 battle in paint points, simply could not match the Bruins’ interior dominance.
For UCLA, this was a survive-and-advance test they passed with championship composure. For UW, it was a statement that the competitive gap between the Dawgs and the league’s elite is shrinking. The final score read 78-60 Bruins, but for Washington, the narrative moving forward is less about the margin and more about the message: the Huskies belong in these games — and they’re coming back for more.
The Numbers In the Winning Margins: Rebounds, Turnovers, Paint Points
Statistically, the Huskies did many things well enough to compete — just not quite enough to steal it.
Washington shot 45% overall and a solid 27% from deep, outperforming UCLA’s poor effort from beyond the arc (10%). However, the real separation came in the trenches.
UCLA out-rebounded Washington 36-25, including an 11-5 edge on the offensive glass. Those extra opportunities turned into a 12-6 advantage in second-chance points and allowed the Bruins to extend possessions when UW desperately needed stops. Also, UCLA’s 52-32 edge in point-in-the-paint highlighted both Lauren Betts’ dominance and UCLA’s size and length advantage overall.
UCLA also won turnovers battle. Washington turned the ball over 14 times compared to the Bruins’ 10 turnovers. Not a huge gap, however, UCLA converted UW’s mistakes into a 17-7 edge in points-off-turnovers. That 10-point differential closely mirrored the Bruins’ second-quarter scoring run and their ability to punish every Husky mistake.
Yet the Huskies did showcase some of their own strengths. Washington moved the ball effectively, registering 16 assists on their made field goals, and recorded 4 steals and 2 blocks. UW’s bench performed almost equally with UCLA’s reserves (6-5 edge by Bruins in bench points), but this matchup was less about depth and more about UCLA’s star power and superior size.
STARTING FIVE
First-Quarter – Dawgs Shock Bruins Early By Throwing First Punch
Washington began the game with an efficient opening salvo. The Huskies shot 54.5% from the field, pushing the ball early in the clock and attacking gaps before UCLA’s half-court defense fully set. While they managed just 20% from three, the Dawgs didn’t need the three-ball to control the quarter.
Meanwhile, UCLA’s offense sputtered. The Bruins shot just 27.3% from the field and went 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. Washington’s help rotations around Betts were sharp, and the Dawgs’ guards made UCLA work to initiate offense, disrupting timing and pushing the Bruins late into the shot clock.
Avery Howell led the scoring with six first-quarter points and finishing through contact in the lane. Freshman forward Brynn McGaughy added four points, using her length and timing to finish around the basket. Meanwhile, reserve guard Devon Coppinger chipped in three points and veteran guard Elle Ladine added two, giving UW a balanced start that reflected their balanced scoring identity.
By the end of the quarter, Washington owned a 15-6 lead, having held the No. 2 team in the country to their lowest scoring quarter of the season.
Second Quarter – UW Builds 10-Point Lead, UCLA Bites Back
The second quarter looked UW would continue to ride their efficient early start.
A layup from Sayvia Sellers gave the Huskies a 10-point lead, 22-12, with 6:26 left. Sellers led the Dawgs with 5 points in the quarter, while Howell and Yulia Grabovskaia contributed 2 apiece.
However, Washington’s shooting cooled to 28.6% from the field and just 14.3% from three — although the Dawgs still moved the ball and generated quality shots.
The Huskies scoring drought opened the door for the Bruins to seize control. Down 10 points,
UCLA answered with a 15–0 run, while smothering the Huskies offense defensively, by attacking the paint.
The Bruins shot 50% in the second quarter and, notably, did it without hitting a three, continuing their inside-focused blueprint.
By halftime, Washington’s 10-point cushion had vanished, replaced by a 27-24 UCLA lead — the Dawgs had outplayed the Bruins for most of the half yet trailed by three.
Third Quarter – UW Battles Back, Bruins Close Strong
Coming back from halftime, Ladine and Stines sparked a UW response. The Huskies opened with a 10-4 scoring run, retaking the lead at 34-33 on an Elle Ladine three-pointer.
Ladine led UW scoring with six points in the third period; Hannah Stines added five points; while Sellers, Howell, and McGaughy each scored two points each.
Washington shot 40% from the field overall and 50% from three-point range, matching every early Bruins surge to stay within striking distance of an upset.
The Bruins shot 50% in the quarter and kept grinding in the paint. Betts particularly continued to be nearly unstoppable inside, using her size and touch for high-percentage shots inside.
However, with Washington still in striking distance, UCLA closed the third with a 7-0 scoring run to build an 8-point lead, 49-41 over the Huskies.
Fourth Quarter – Huskies Fade, Bruins’ Size and Depth Overwhelms
Although running out of time, the Huskies refused to fold. Sellers opened the period with a three that briefly cut the deficit to six and raised hopes of another Washington surge.
Washington delivered its most efficient offensive quarter, shooting 61.5% from the field — although just 25% from three-point range.
But UCLA shot a blistering 81.3% in the fourth, again without any made three-pointers.
For the Huskies, Avery Howell continued her high level scoring performance with eight points in the final frame; McGaughy added six points; while Sellers added three; and Ladine chipped in two points.
UCLA secured the game with a ruthless stretch run to an 18-point victory, 78-60, over the Dawgs.
