No. 3 UCLA flexed its offensive muscle in a statement win over No.
11 Tennessee on Sunday, cruising to a 99-77 victory at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. From the opening tip, the Bruins looked every bit like a top-three team in the country, and by the final buzzer, they had reminded everyone why they’re a legitimate national title contender.
UCLA took a 49-39 lead into halftime, and never really looked back. The Bruins were sharp, efficient, and relentless on the offensive end, with four players finishing in double figures.
Leading the charge was Gabriela Jaquez, who poured in a game-high 29 points. Jaquez was in rhythm all afternoon, scoring from all three levels and setting the tone with her aggressiveness.
Her performance was more than just about points-it was about leadership and poise in a high-profile matchup.
Tennessee, meanwhile, had its moments, but couldn’t keep pace with UCLA’s firepower. The Lady Vols got a strong showing from Janaiah Barker, who notched 25 points along with two steals and three rebounds. Barker, a transfer now finding her footing in Knoxville, showed flashes of the dynamic scorer she can be, attacking the rim and creating offense in tough spots.
Talaysia Cooper also turned in a well-rounded performance for Tennessee, finishing with 11 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and a steal. She was the engine behind several of the Lady Vols’ best stretches, pushing the tempo and keeping the offense moving. Nya Robertson added 12 points and contributed across the board with three assists, a steal, and a rebound, while Zee Spearman chipped in 10 points, six boards, and a block.
But despite those individual efforts, Tennessee couldn’t match UCLA’s depth or tempo. The Bruins’ ability to get contributions from multiple players and maintain pressure on both ends of the floor wore the Lady Vols down over four quarters.
Tennessee will look to regroup quickly, with another marquee matchup on deck. The Lady Vols are set to face Stanford on Wednesday as part of the ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge.
That game, tipping off at 9:15 p.m. EST on ESPN2 from Naples Arena in Stanford, California, offers a chance to bounce back and reset against another top-tier opponent.
For now, though, Sunday belonged to the Bruins. And if this performance is any indication, UCLA is just getting started.