No. 4 UCLA women rout winless Long Beach State 106-44 in largest victory of the season

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gabriela Jaquez and Lauren Betts scored 17 points apiece, and No. 4 UCLA routed winless Long Beach State 106-44 on Saturday for the Bruins' largest victory of the season in their final nonconference game.

Kiki Rice added 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Bruins (11-1). Gianna Kneepkens had 10 points and 10 rebounds as one of four starters in double figures. Jaquez tied her career high with five 3-pointers.

Long Beach State was led by JaQuoia Jones-Brown with 10 points. The Beach (0-10) committed 20 turnovers and were on the wrong end of nearly every statistical category in their worst loss this season. Two starters, Khylee-Jade Pepe and Judit Oliva Fernandez, were both in foul trouble.

UCLA led 29-11 after one quarter and closed the second with a 20-5 run that extended the margin to 57-23 at halftime. Jaquez made her first four 3s in the opening period.

The Bruins held the Beach to eight points in the third while pushing their lead to 78-31, capped by Jaquez's fifth 3-pointer. UCLA finished off the fourth by outscoring the Beach 28-13. Megan Grant, a star player on the school's softball team, scored her second basket of the season.

UCLA freshman Sienna Betts had season highs of 14 points and 15 minutes in her second game. The younger sister of star center Lauren Betts missed the first 10 games while nursing a lower left leg injury sustained in preseason practice. The sisters assisted each other on multiple baskets.

Bruins coach Cori Close emptied her bench, with every player scoring.

The two teams also met a year ago to the day, when UCLA won by 32 on its way to a Final Four berth.

UCLA's margin of victory topped its 51-point win over Southern on Nov. 23.

Long Beach State hosts Toledo on Monday.

UCLA visits No. 21 Ohio State on Dec. 28 in its second Big Ten game of the season.

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Long Beach State guard Brynna Pukis, left, drives against UCLA guard Lena Bilić, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) dribbles against Long Beach State forward Judit Oliva Fernandez, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) shields the ball from Long Beach State guard Khylee Pepe (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he's endorsing Nassau County's Republican executive for governor in next fall's New York race, just a day after the president's longtime ally Rep. Elise Stefanik announced she was suspending her candidacy.

The endorsement, while not unexpected, could help ensure that Bruce Blakeman, who leads the suburban county on Long Island, doesn't face a serious contender in his push to win the GOP primary and a chance at a likely faceoff against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning,” Trump said in a post announcing the endorsement on his Truth Social platform.

Stefanik announced Friday that she is suspending her campaign for governor and will not seek reelection to Congress.

The race between Stefanik and Blake had been expected to be competitive. Stefanik in announcing her decision said she wanted to avoid an “unnecessary and protracted Republican primary.”

Stefanik has been a steadfast ally of Trump, who nominated her to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations only to withdraw it because of concerns about potentially further eroding the GOP's narrow majority in the House.

Stefanik announced her decision just days after Blakeman formally announced his candidacy.

Trump on Monday, amid reports Blakeman would jump into the race, declined to take a side in the primary race when asked about Blakeman and Stefanik, instead telling reporters, “He’s great, and she’s great. They’re both great people."

Blakeman, the executive of Nassau County, has gained attention for championing a policy that bans transgender athletes from using county sports facilities. He has also created a volunteer law enforcement unit that his critics have labeled as a militia and directed county detectives to work alongside federal authorities in Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Hochul campaign suggested that Trump's embrace of Blakeman should be a turnoff to the state's voters.

“Donald Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman for one reason: he’ll put Trump first, New York last, and leave families to foot the bill," said Hochul campaign communications director Sarafina Chitika.

FILE - Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at podium, speaks during a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo, File)