LONG BEACH — Cori Close became the winningest UCLA women’s basketball coach in program history Saturday afternoon when the Bruins beat Long Beach State 102-51 at Walter Pyramid. Close now has 297 wins in her 14 seasons with UCLA. She surpassed Billie Moore, who coached the Bruins from 1977-1993 and died in 2022 after a battle with multiple myeloma.
“I remember specifically I was playing at UC Santa Barbara and we were driving down to UCLA playing against a really good Billie Moore team,” Close told reporters Friday. “And I remember thinking like, ‘Wow, she’s it.’” “It’s with great humility that I have a chance to even coach in the same place, to be talked about in the same language and it gives me a chance to say thank you, Billie — wherever you are.
I hope you’re looking down, and we are representing your sacrifice because she did so much for the sport.” The Bruins got Close her win in dominant fashion, using a significant height advantage and stacking up a 28-8 lead by the end of the first quarter. Forward Angela Ducalić had an efficient night of shooting, making all seven of her shots by halftime for 16 points.
She released the ball with ease wherever she was on the court and swished a deep 3-pointer from behind the top of the key late in the second quarter. The 6-foot-4 Dugalić finished with 22 points. UCLA also got double-doubles from 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts (22 points and 10 rebounds) and 6-foot-4 forward Janiah Barker (19 points and.
