Kiki Rice Stats Tonight: How did UCLA star fare vs South Carolina? (Nov 24)

In just her second game of the season, UCLA sophomore guard Kiki Rice played a versatile role in helping the No. 5 Bruins defeat No. 2 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday. The loss ended the Gamecocks’ 43-game win streak.

Rice was one of five Bruins players with double-digit points, contributing 11 points, one rebound, three assists, one steal, and one block in her first start this season after recovering from a preseason shoulder injury.

Kiki Rice made a strong comeback after playing just 11 minutes against Arkansas last Sunday, where she went scoreless and missed all four of her shots. She added two rebounds and one assist.

Before the game, head coach Cori Close shared her hopes that Rice wouldn’t face any minutes restrictions. The preseason Wooden Award watchlist player was unrestricted and played with energy, logging the second-most minutes for the Bruins at 28.

The victory marked UCLA’s first-ever win over an AP No. 1 team, highlighting their depth and strong performance on both offense and defense. As the Bruins are expected to rise in Monday’s AP Top 25 rankings, Close is pushing her team to build on this success and achieve more than just a big win in late November.

Lauren Betts praises Kiki Rice's performance vs. South Carolina

Kiki Rice's performance drew praise from UCLA teammate Lauren Betts after the game.

“She looked so amazing and she really is the rock of our team,” said teammate Lauren Betts of Rice, per the AP. “She has a super-calm presence on court.”

Betts also played her part in the win. She finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.

Betts led a commanding performance from the Bruins (5-0), who used their relentless defense to stifle South Carolina (4-1) and prevent sustained scoring runs.

UCLA opened with a dominant 15-2 lead in the first quarter and maintained control, building a 24-point advantage by halftime. South Carolina struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 9-of-34 in the first half, a stretch that included a 17-5 UCLA run fueled by three-pointers.

It was a collective effort for UCLA, as Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts got good support from their teammates. Londynn Jones led the charge with 15 points, two rebounds, and three steals while sinking all five of her 3-point attempts. Freshman Elina Aarnisalo from Finland contributed 13 points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal while effectively running the pick-and-roll.

Up next, UCLA will face UT Martin on Friday, while South Carolina looks to rebound against No. 8 Iowa State on Thursday.