Dominant Bruins cruise past Beach

Jaquez leads balanced attack with 17 points as nonconference slate ends with romp.

- STEVE GALUZZO

SIENNA BETTS (16) vies for the ball against Kennan Ka of Long Beach State.

UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close could not have imagined a better way for her team to wrap up nonconference play than Saturday afternoon's 106-44 trouncing of Long Beach State at Pauley Pavilion.

Coming off Tuesday's 115-28 triumph over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo — UCLA's largest margin of victory during the NCAA era — the Bruins picked up where they left off, leading wire-to-wire for their fifth consecutive win since suffering their lone loss to Texas on Nov. 26.

“We're growing ... we had a couple of lapses today and we're not there yet, but we're heading in the right direction,” Close said. “I love the selflessness of this team.

“I'm really proud of our nonconference schedule. Not many local teams are willing to play us, so I want to compliment Long Beach State. Our starting guards [Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kiki Rice] combined for 17 assists and one turnover. We have depth and balance and that’s a great luxury to have.”