How Gabriela Jaquez became a breakout shooting star for No. 2 UCLA

"Against the Volunteers, Jaquez made five three-pointers, her most ever. Suddenly, one of the best teams in the nation had one of the best breakout stars. Entering the NCAA tournament, the 31-1 Big Ten champion Bruins are relying on Jaquez as one of their super seniors to guide them back to the Final Four."

"I do think she's always been that player. But I do think she's had a lot more opportunity to demonstrate that, and you saw that in the beginning of the year. She just started off such a hot shooter, and the way that she's developed every single year, gotten better and just found a way to impact the team."

"Though she hasn't reached that same scoring peak again, Jaquez has quietly buoyed UCLA's dominant run this season as the Bruins have emerged as one of the favorites to win a national title. She ranks second on UCLA in field-goal percentage at 54.3%, second in three-point shooting at 41.1% and third in scoring."

Gabriela Jaquez's performance against Tennessee in late November marked a turning point in her UCLA women's basketball career. Though not her career-high scoring game, it showcased her evolution as a player, particularly her development as a three-point shooter with five made threes. Previously known primarily for attacking the rim, Jaquez demonstrated a new offensive dimension that changed defensive approaches. As a super senior, she has become crucial to UCLA's championship aspirations. Despite not matching that scoring peak again, Jaquez has consistently contributed to the Bruins' dominant season, ranking second in field-goal percentage at 54.3% and three-point shooting at 41.1%, while placing third in scoring. She represents one of only 25 Power Four conference players shooting above 40% from three-point range this season.

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