The UCLA women’s basketball team was in complete control with a 26-point lead against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo when the third quarter ended, but that didn’t stop Londynn Jones from showcasing her scoring skills.

On the first possession of the fourth quarter, Jones slashed her way to the hoop to score on a layup, then drained a fastbreak three-pointer on the Bruins’ next possession to give UCLA a 31-point lead. By then, any hope of a Mustangs comeback was wiped out.

The top-ranked Bruins wrapped up their home non-conference schedule in familiar fashion Monday, dominating in a 69-37 victory.

UCLA (11-0) was without its best player — junior center Lauren Betts was held out because of a minor lower body injury — and her absence was felt early. The Bruins shot an abysmal 12.5% from the field in the second quarter as Cal Poly (4-6) cut the Bruins’ lead to nine points.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice, right, is called for an offensive foul on Cal Poly guard Ashley Hiraki in the second half Monday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

But the Bruins’ depth helped them overcome the absence of Betts, who is averaging a double-double and is the Big Ten’s third-leading scorer. Janiah Barker finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, Timea Gardiner had 11 points and six rebounds and Jones and Angela Dugalić each finished with 12 points.

The road will get tougher for the Bruins. They face Creighton at Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday before returning to Pauley Pavilion to play Nebraska on Dec. 29.

After signing Juan Soto to the richest contract in sports history, people familiar with the New York Mets’ thinking about filling roster holes said the club plans to act “aggressively yet smart.”

Such phrasing suggests the Mets will take their shots with some of the talent available on the market but may want to avoid being tied to another long contract. So it would seem their preference, even in some cases with large annual average values, would be to go short-term.

That might mean the Mets prefer homegrown star Pete Alonso to return on a shorter deal rather than conceding entirely if Alonso’s desired figures run on the long end. That might mean a reluctance to go five years, possibly even four years, for Sean Manaea, a pitcher they’d like to re-sign. And it might mean wanting Walker Buehler, someone who’d fit in well with them, for something like a one-year deal with an option rather than a straight multiyear pact.

The Mets inked Soto last week at 15 years and $765 million, underscoring in big bold lettering owner Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend for what he wants.

What Cohen desires most, though, is a perennial winner, not a team prone to big ups and downs.

So while a team’s winter is always difficult to predict because opportunities sometimes arise unexpectedly, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rest of the Mets’ offseason reflected a more measured approach.

In Soto, the Mets saw a generational player and viewed splurging on him as a rare opportunity. He’s 26 years old and one of the game’s most prolific hitters. They’ll continue looking for ways to supplement a roster that includes star Francisco Lindor, veteran Brandon Nimmo and breakout player Mark Vientos. But just because they committed so much to Soto, doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll fill other holes by any means necessary.

The Mets splurged multiple times a few years ago with mixed results at best. One year, they experienced success. The next year, they needed to pivot. That is why Cohen hired David Stearns as president of baseball operations, to run things with an emphasis on viability.

Sensible trade options exist for the Mets, particularly if they don’t match with free agents such as Manaea, Buehler, Nick Pivetta or someone similar. There is no guarantee the San Diego Padres’ Dylan Cease or the Houston Astros’ Framber Valdez will be traded, but both pitchers seem to work under the Mets’ plan. They’re both set to be free agents after the season. Thus, they both would be motivated to have big seasons. In either, the Mets could see an opportunity.

Other opportunities to upgrade the pitching staff may involve starters under club control. Garrett Crochet, 25, stood out as an example. The Mets engaged with the White Sox about Crochet before Chicago dealt him to the Red Sox, which indicated a willingness to part with high-end talent from the farm system. But talks between the Mets and White Sox went only so far because the Mets didn’t want to part with what the White Sox wanted and ultimately received (multiple top prospects). The process served as a data point in learning how Stearns operates with the Mets.

After reaching the NLCS in his second year leading the Mets, Stearns doled out his three largest contracts with the club: Soto, obviously, plus Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million) and Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million). In the case of Holmes, Stearns used money to beat out other teams interested in converting the All-Star reliever into a starter. Still, that’s not exactly akin to going an extra year on someone like Alex Bregman. It’s more taking a shot on someone based on processes and acting with conviction within guided parameters. Veteran agents often compliment Stearns for his ability to collect information, read the market and then make a decision. He is not easily susceptible to being on the wrong end of a bad contract.

While the Soto deal highlights Cohen’s capabilities, what comes next figures to feature Stearns and his front office’s track record.

(Top photo of Juan Soto and David Stearns: David Dee Delgado / Getty Images)

Every College Football Playoff team wants their focus to solely be on winning a national title, but Penn State head coach James Franklin addressed a problem elsewhere in the sport. 

The college football transfer portal is open, and the timing couldn’t be worse for coaches like Franklin, who already saw a key backup player enter. 

But Franklin defended his backup quarterback, Beau Pribula, who made the decision to enter the portal after starter Drew Allar already declared his intention to return to the Nittany Lions in 2025. 

“The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision,” Pribula wrote on social media Sunday. 

“We got problems in college football, and I can give you my word Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program, and he did not want to leave our program until the end of the season,” Franklin said, via ESPN, on Monday in defense of Pribula’s decision to enter the portal. “But the way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the position of quarterback and there’s only one spot and those spots are filling up, he felt like he was put in a no-win situation, and I agree with them.”

Pribula spoke with Franklin about his decision before making it public. 

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Now, because of the decision, true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who hasn’t thrown a pass, will be Penn State’s backup throughout the College Football Playoff, which begins for the Nittany Lions on Saturday against No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium. 

“No. 1, I hate for it, most importantly for Beau Pribula,” Franklin added. “I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the student-athlete, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of college football.”

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula rushes against the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (IMAGN)

Franklin added that Pribula has been a “phenomenal teammate” and has played a big role in helping his team reach the playoff, despite only being used sparingly this season. 

However, Pribula’s speed is something the Nittany Lions benefited from this season, as he’s tied for second with six rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards (242). He also threw for five touchdowns on 25 attempts for 275 yards this season. 

Unfortunately, though, he isn’t the only player that’s entered the portal despite their team’s success. 

Former Texas Longhorns backup Maalik Murphy entered the portal last season despite his team’s upcoming game against the Washington Huskies for a place in the national championship. 

He would eventually transfer to Duke, where he’s started the 2024 season. Murphy is once again in the portal looking for his next team. 

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

And the Nittany Lions’ opponent on Saturday also saw the Mustangs’ backup quarterback Preston Stone enter the portal. 

This is the first year of the expanded playoff, but the transfer portal, an area of controversy throughout college football depending on who you’re talking to, remains an even bigger problem with more teams preparing for a hopeful national title run.

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