No. 2 UCLA Dominates No. 13 Michigan State, But Turnovers Remain Issue

The Bruins cruised to an 86-63 victory, but head coach Cori Close says they need to take better care of the ball.

Feb. 12, 2026 at 4:47am

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No. 2 UCLA blew out No. 13 Michigan State 86-63 on the road, led by strong performances from senior center Lauren Betts and senior guard Kiki Rice. The Bruins dominated the paint and the boards, but they also turned the ball over 18 times, which head coach Cori Close says is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.

Why it matters

UCLA is one of the top teams in the country and a national title contender, but their tendency to turn the ball over could be an Achilles' heel that opponents exploit, especially in high-stakes tournament games. Cleaning up their ball-handling will be crucial as the Bruins gear up for the NCAA Tournament.

The details

The Bruins outscored the Spartans 56-28 in the paint and outrebounded them 48-28, with Betts posting a 22-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist stat line and Rice adding 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. However, UCLA's 18 turnovers, which led to 19 points for Michigan State, were a major concern for head coach Cori Close.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team.

Lauren Betts

A senior center for the UCLA Bruins who had a dominant performance in the win over Michigan State.

Kiki Rice

A senior guard for the UCLA Bruins who also had a strong game against Michigan State.

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What they’re saying

“When you don't allow teams to find advantages and force rotations, you're going to have the advantage on the box-outs as well. That is what you saw.”

— Cori Close, Head Coach, UCLA

“We talked a lot before this trip about there are going to be Elite Eight, Sweet Sixteen type games and road environments. Being ready to play in those environments and handle good teams on a short turnaround, just really be prepared to make adjustments and have the mental fortitude to play in tough games.”

— Kiki Rice, Senior Guard, UCLA

What’s next

The Bruins will look to clean up their ball-handling issues as they continue their quest for a national championship.

The takeaway

While UCLA dominated Michigan State in the paint and on the boards, their 18 turnovers are a lingering issue that head coach Cori Close says needs to be addressed. Cutting down on sloppy play will be crucial for the Bruins as they gear up for the NCAA Tournament and a potential run at the title.