The No. 11 University of California, Los Angeles women’s basketball team concluded its preseason with an 81-64 loss at No. 6 Texas on October 25, 2026, at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas. Junior point guard Elina Aarnisalo led UCLA with 13 points and eight rebounds, while senior guard Donovyn Hunter scored 11 points in the defeat.
Despite the loss, UCLA won the rebounding battle 36-31, including a 14-11 advantage on offensive boards. However, the Bruins struggled with turnovers, committing 18 that resulted in 20 points for Texas. Sophomore forward Sienna Betts contributed eight points and five rebounds before fouling out.
Nine Bruins scored in the game, including KK Bransford, Bonnie Deas, Timea Gardiner, Somto Okafor, Addy Brown, and freshman Lina Jerković. UCLA remained competitive early but fell behind by 15 points in the third quarter after a Texas run, which they could not recover from.
UCLA and Texas are scheduled to meet again on December 20, 2026, in the 2026 Players Era Women’s Showcase.
CSB Take
This preseason exhibition revealed key areas for improvement for UCLA women’s basketball, particularly in limiting turnovers and capitalizing on scoring opportunities despite strong rebounding efforts. The Bruins displayed balanced scoring from multiple players, which is encouraging for the regular season. The upcoming rematch against Texas offers UCLA a chance to build on this experience and address early-season challenges.
Source: Original report
