LOS ANGELES (AP) — Timea Gardiner scored a career-high 23 points, including 15 in the first quarter, and No. 5 UCLA routed Arkansas 101-52 on Sunday night. Gardiner, an Oregon State transfer, made a career-best seven 3-pointers.
Lauren Betts added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Bruins (4-0). Izzy Higginbottom scored 15 points to lead Arkansas (3-2), which had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Bruins raced to a 15-3 lead, with Gardiner hitting three consecutive 3-pointers.
The Razorbacks got within three before UCLA took off again, closing the first quarter on a 15-4 spurt. UCLA gave up 13 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. Arkansas: Higginbottom has been excellent since transferring from Arkansas State.
The senior guard averaged 23.5 points through her first four games and has cut down on her turnovers. UCLA: Kiki Rice made her season debut and was scoreless in 11 minutes with two rebounds and one assist after missing the first three games with a shoulder injury sustained in a preseason practice.
The Razorbacks were outscored 27-9 in the second quarter, with Higginbottom accounting for all their points. Vera Ojenuwa, who at 6-foot-4 was the tallest starter, picked up her third foul early in the period, leaving Arkansas without someone to challenge the 6-7 Betts, who went on to score 10 points and help the Bruins lead 57-25 at halftime. The Bruins dominated the boards, 65-27, including a 29-7 edge on the offensive glass.
Angela Dugalic had a career.