UCLA
Arizona St
Bruins Rally to Beat ASU in Pauley
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
March 5, 1999
The 16th-ranked UCLA women's basketball team scored the final 12 points of the game while holding visiting Arizona State scoreless for the last 5:59 of tonight's Pac-10 game to pull out a 64-61 win in Pauley Pavilion before a crowd of 1,743.
ASU which led 33-28 at the half, took a 61-52 lead with 5:59 left in the game on a layup by center Rachel Holt. UCLA guards Michelle Greco and LaCresha Flannigan then took over at both ends of the floor for the Bruins. Greco made a jumper on an assist from Flannigan at the 4:33 mark to make it 61-54 ASU. After Flannigan made one out of two free throws for a 61-55 margin at the 3:55 mark, the Bruin sophomore scored on a layup and a free throw to complete a three-point play at 3:28 which further narrowed the deficit to 61-57. Greco then scored on a jump shot to make it 61-59 with 2:16 to go and again at the 1:17 mark to make it 62-61 UCLA. The two teams then traded turnovers with Flannigan stealing an ASU inbounds pass and converting it into a layup at the 4.5 second mark for a 64-61 Bruin advantage. ASU's Natalie Tucker's attempt at a game-tying three-pointer fell well short of the basket at the buzzer.
UCLA, which improved its record to 22-7, 14-3, was led by Flannigan's 18 points. "ASU slowed us down tonight with their trapping defense," said UCLA coach Kathy Olivier. "We could not score quickly as out team is accustomed to doing. But to our credit, we stayed together when we got down, did not get frustrated and got a victory. It will pay off for us in the tournament because we learned a lot tonight."
ASU, which fell to 11-15, 5-12, was paced by Tucker's 13 points. "We have played better in the second half of the season," said ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne. "We were hesitant in the last three minutes of the game and it cost us. We are just young...UCLA was at that point a couple of seasons ago and we stole one from them at the buzzer at out place."
GAME NOTE---At the 9:05 mark of the first half, UCLA junior point guard Erica Gomez passed Ann Meyers (1975-78, old record 544 assists) and became the all-time school leader in assists. Gomez' total is currently at 548.
