Kiki Rice stats tonight: How did UCLA star fare vs Creighton? (Dec. 20)

Kiki Rice led the way as UCLA cruised to a 70-41 victory over Creighton on Friday night in the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic.

Despite missing their leading scorer, junior forward Lauren Betts, for the second consecutive game due to injury, the Bruins found their rhythm, largely thanks to the junior guard.

Rice led all Bruins with 20 points in 27 minutes, shooting an impressive 8-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. She added five rebounds and four assists while committing no fouls or turnovers in her ninth game of the season.

The Bruins set the tone early, outscoring the Bluejays 26-4 in the first quarter. Rice was instrumental, contributing 10 points with 2-of-2 shooting from 3-point range, along with one rebound and two assists. She added five points, one rebound and one assist in the second quarter to help UCLA secure a commanding 42-23 halftime lead.

Rice continued her efficient play in the third quarter, scoring five more points while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out one assist before concluding her night.

Standing at 5-foot-11, Rice entered the game averaging 11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 23.8 minutes per game, shooting 54.5% from the field, 30% from three-point range and 87.5% from the free throw line.

After a slow start to the season due to injuries, Rice has hit her stride since returning to the starting lineup. Her continued development will be key as she aims to help UCLA secure its first championship since 1978.

UCLA dominates Creighton in convincing victory

Despite the absence of star player Lauren Betts, UCLA surged to a commanding start against Creighton, making the opening quarter an insurmountable challenge for the Bluejays.

The Bruins shot an impressive 11-of-22 from the field in the first quarter, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, to establish a dominant 26-4 lead. Meanwhile, Creighton struggled offensively, managing just 1-of-13 shooting in the opening 10 minutes.

The Bluejays showed resilience in the second quarter, outscoring UCLA 19-16. However, the Bruins’ overwhelming 59-26 rebounding advantage — including 29-12 in the first half — helped them maintain a commanding 42-23 lead at halftime.

Scoring slowed for both teams in the second half, but UCLA still outpaced Creighton 28-18 to seal a decisive 29-point victory.

With the loss, Creighton ended its non-conference schedule at 9-3, while UCLA improved to a perfect 12-0 on the season.

Both teams now take a short break for the holidays. UCLA will host Nebraska on Dec. 29, with the game airing on Big Ten Plus, while Creighton travels to St. John’s for a Dec. 28 matchup on Fox.