By John "Woods" Armwood III
The Scarlet Knights defended their home court against the No.1 UCLA Bruins on Thursday night. Disregarding both team records, this game was highly anticipated and lived up to the hype. Veteran forward Destiny Adams took this game and embraced the challenge of facing the No.1 ranked center in college basketball, Lauren Betts, recording a double-double (15 points and 13 rebounds).
“I don’t think she arrived today, I think Destiny Adams ha shown throughout this entire season that she’s one of the best forwards in the country,” Rutgers head coach Coquese Washington explained. “She can play against anybody, and more importantly she can be impactful and effective against anybody.”
Thoughts from both head coaches of @UCLAWBB AND @RutgersWBB pic.twitter.com/FZzeeCroNA
— John “Woods” Armwood III (@J_Armwood908) January 26, 2025
“... She’s a competitor and fighter, I hope people can see that when you're watching her play,” Washington continued. “All of those things will make her impactful on the next level.”
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were handed a tough loss on Friday evening as they fell to the UCLA Bruins 84-66 in a high-stakes matchup at the RAC (Rutgers Athletic Center). Despite a valiant effort from the Scarlet Knights, UCLA's high-powered offense and tenacious defense proved too much to handle, as the Bruins handed Rutgers their second loss of the season.
UCLA's Explosive First Half
UCLA came out with intensity from the tip-off, making their presence felt immediately with a fast-paced offensive attack and a swarming defense that forced Rutgers into early mistakes. Betts came out fast-paced and recorded four points and four rebounds in the opening quarter.
“When I watched her on film I saw how consistently she plays hard,” UCLA head coach Cori Close commented on the play of Adams. “She’s the aggressor on every play, and I just think that’s going to take you such a long way. … 15 points and 13 rebounds is a pretty good night, especially against a team with as much length as we have.”
After the game concluded, @UCLAWBB HC @CoachCoriClose doubled down on how impressed she was with @RutgersWBB, specifically @destinyyadamss ! @Sh3gotgame1 https://t.co/VmS7GTNonH pic.twitter.com/CCG2Oa447S
— John “Woods” Armwood III (@J_Armwood908) January 24, 2025
The Bruins set the tone defensively by locking down Rutgers' shooters, particularly on the perimeter. UCLA's defense held Rutgers to just 38% shooting in the first half, while they shot an efficient 50% from the field. Junior guard Kiki Rice the talented freshman guard, also played a major role in the first-half dominance, contributing 10 points and 10 assists, demonstrating her playmaking ability while managing the flow of the game.
By halftime, UCLA had a lead in a very tightly contested matchup, 45-29, after a late 10-0 run that left Rutgers scrambling to recover.
Rutgers Struggles to Find Rhythm
Rutgers' offensive struggles were apparent throughout the game, particularly with their inability to break through UCLA’s defensive pressure. Rutgers' most consistent scorer throughout the season, struggled to find her shot, McMiller, finishing with just 17 points on 7-of-20 shooting.
While Rutgers fought back with some energy in the second quarter, trimming the lead to 15 at one point, UCLA’s relentless offense and tough defense never gave them a real chance to close the gap.
Despite the lopsided score, Rutgers showed resilience throughout the game. Senior Destiny Adams and Jojo Lacey provided solid minutes helping the team to stay competitive in stretches. But ultimately, the Scarlet Knights couldn’t overcome UCLA’s superior rebounding and relentless scoring, ball movement, and defensive pressure.
Washington will likely focus on improving her team’s shooting efficiency and defensive adjustments as the Scarlet Knights move forward in the season. Rutgers will also need to find ways to get more offensive production from their key players, especially McMiller, who will be crucial in future games.
Looking Ahead
For UCLA, the 84-66 victory improves their record to 19-0, and they will look to build on this performance as they move into the latter part of their non-conference schedule. With a deep and talented roster, the Bruins are shaping up to be a serious contender as they’re ranked the best in the country.
For Rutgers, the road ahead won’t get any easier. They now sit at 8-12 on the season and must regroup quickly ahead of their next matchup, where they will face a tough opponent on the road. If they can find a way to solve their offensive struggles and shore up their defense, the Scarlet Knights will still be in the mix as the season progresses.
While Rutgers had their moments of fight, UCLA’s all-around performance was simply too much to overcome. The Bruins leave the RAC with a convincing win and a strong statement of their potential as the season continues.