University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
USA Basketball National Team
USA Women's Basketball National Team Defeats UCLA 112-55
November 05, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 5, 1999
Westwood, Calif. - The USA women's basketball national team defeated UCLA 112-55, in an exhibition match-up in front of 1,771 at Pauley Pavilion. Center Lisa Leslie from the Los Angeles Sparks led all players with 27 points on 8-11 field goal shooting.
UCLA, playing without four injured potential starters Maylana Martin (rehabbing after back surgery), Erica Gomez (shoulder surgery) and LaCresha Flannigan (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Michelle Greco (concussion), was led in scoring by senior forward Takiyah Jackson, who was playing for the first time since tearing her ACL in the fall of 1998. Jackson scored 14 points, 12 in the second half of play. Also scoring in double-figures was senior guard Marie Philman, with 12 points.
Freshman Nicole Kaczmarski recorded six points and four assists in her UCLA debut. Janae Hubbard and Carly Funicello tied for the night's high in rebounds with the USA's Leslie and Yolanda Griffith.
The USA team dominated the game after UCLA took the early 2-0 lead behind a Funicello basket. Leslie scored 16 of her 27 points in the first stanza and finished the night with six blocked shots. Guard Dawn Staley dished out 10 assists. Former Bruin All-American Natalie Williams, in her Pauley Pavilion homecoming, scored five points and pulled down five rebounds. Team USA shot 60% from the field and limited the Bruins to 38.6% shooting. UCLA kept it respectable on the boards, pulling down 28 to Team USA's 39.
"It was nice for people in the area to see basketball like this - the best in the world," said UCLA head coach Kathy Olivier. "With four potential starters on the bench, we did well. I thought we did a good job keeping them off the boards, but we were tentative offensively. I think you'll see us get better. It was fun to see them (UCLA) smiling and having a good time."
Added USA head coach Nell Fortner, "Jackson had a good night, and Kaczmarski is going to be a really nice player. One on one, she can create and shoot over people. When they get all their players healthy, they're going to be a nice team. They competed hard tonight."
UCLA will partcipate in the annual Preview Day with the Bruin men on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 4 pm in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins' next exhibition game will be on Sunday, Nov. 14 vs. SBC Prerov-Czech Republic in Pauley Pavilion at 2:00 pm.
