The Gophers women's basketball team kept it close for a while, but it ultimately wasn't able to keep up with top-ranked UCLA over the final two quarters in what became a 79-53 blowout Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Minnesota (18-5, 6-5 Big Ten) held UCLA star center Lauren Betts to just six points — 14 below her season average — but the junior used the added defensive attention to her teammates’ advantage. Betts finished with 11 assists on a day when the Bruins hit 13 triples on 40 percent shooting from deep.

Entering the final quarter with just two points to her name, 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts found yet another way to contribute to a Bruin win. Etching a career-high 11 assists, Betts embraced her role as a facilitator.

Minnesota went toe to toe with the top-ranked team in the country for two and a half quarters Sunday in Los Angeles, thanks largely to the brilliance of Amaya Battle. The Gophers were within six points after Sophie Hart drained a jumper with 5 minutes, 48 seconds to play in the third frame.