Angela Dugalić Christmas time check in after 12 games

Angela Dugalić is playing a key role off of the Bruins bench this season for Cori Close. After being a starter for most of the last two years, Dugalić has transitioned to being a top bench option. As UCLA has slid Gianna Kneepkens into that starting role. It has been the best thing possible as Dugalić is having her best college season yet. This is year five for her at UCLA. She spent a season at Oregon in 2020-21 and then transferred to UCLA. She also sat out the 2022-23 season due to injury.

On the season, she is averaging 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. While playing 24.8 minutes per night, which is a career high for her college career. You don’t need to be a starter to play good minutes at the college level. Dugalić has continued to force Close hand by playing exceptional basketball. Which has forced her way into the lineup to find minutes wherever they can. Dugalić is shooting 53.9% from the floor and 35.3% from long range.

She has had seven games this season of at least 10+ points and is another exceptional rebounder for this team. The Bruins are a very seasoned veteran team and Dugalić is a part of the many seniors on the team. It cannot be talked about enough that this is the year UCLA needs to make it happen. They are as deep as they have ever been and they have players who have played March basketball. Dugalić included as she was a starter on the Final Four team last season.

The bench has been a big part of UCLA’s success. They have been able to play plenty of minutes as well to get them prepared for the Big Ten schedule ahead. As they have been able to rout opponents and rest their starters. Dugalić is one of the leaders on the second unit and she will continue to play a big role for the team. Just because she comes off the bench doesn’t mean she won’t be playing big minutes as this team storms into March.