UCLA
Pepperdine
Women's Basketball Crushes Pepperdine, 85-51
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
December 30, 1998
LOS ANGELES (AP) - UCLA shooting guard LaCresha Flannigan has improved steadily has responded to coach Kathy Olivier's decision to put her in the starting lineup.
The 5-foot-7 junior continued her development with a career-high 18 points and led the ninth-ranked Bruins to a runaway 85-51 victory over Pepperdine on Wednesday night.
Flannigan helped UCLA overcome the loss of All-America forward Maylana Martin and sparked a decisive run at the end of the first half that powered the Bruins to their eighth victory in the last 10 games.
"One of my goals this year was to become a starter," said Flannigan, who made 9-of-16 shots. "Now that I'm starting, I want to do everything I can to keep my job."
With Martin being rested because of severe headaches caused by a sinus infection, Flannigan scored six points in the Bruins' 13-0 run in the last 3:35 of the first half. The surge carried UCLA (8-4) from a one-point deficit to a 43-31 halftime lead.
"LaCresha gave us a big lift tonight," Olivier said. "She was the quickest thing out there. She's been developing steadily and tonight was her best game. LaCresha gives us a new dimension when she's out there."
Melanie Pearson came off the bench to score a game-high 19 points, while Janae Hubbard added 16 points and reserve Carly Funicello scored 14.
The Waves (8-4) were hurt by the Bruins' quickness and their own cold shooting. Pepperdine shot only 32.2 percent for the game, connecting on only 19-of-59 shots.
That included the Waves missing their last five shots of the first half and seven of their first nine of the second when UCLA increased its lead to 21 points.
"We figured this game would be a real challenge for us," said Waves coach Mark Trakh. "We dug a hole for ourselves in the first half and couldn't do anything to climb out of it in the second. We couldn't stop Flannigan, which also hurt."
Kate Crane led Pepperdine with 12 points. Rasheeda Clark scored 11 and Samantha Rigley added eight for the Waves.
