UCLA
Connecticut
UCLA Drops Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase to No. 2 UConn, 86-50
December 21, 2014 | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – UCLA fell to No. 2 Connecticut 86-50 in the Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase on Sunday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Bruins dropped to 4-6 while the Huskies improved to 8-1 overall and 3-0 all-time against the Bruins.
Redshirt sophomore Kari Korver led the Bruins with 14 points, including 11 in the first half.
UCLA opened the game with an early 4-2 lead, which it held for 2:31, its last lead of the contest. UConn engineered scoring runs of 13-0 and 10-0 in the opening 20 minutes to build a 20-point lead (40-20). But the Bruins scored the final five points of the first half to close the gap to 40-25 at the break.
The Bruins tied the Huskies 19-19 in rebounding on the strength of nine offensive rebounds in the first half. UConn shot 53.3 percent (16-for-30) from the field while the Bruins were held to 29.0 percent (9-for-31). UCLA was hampered by 12 turnovers in the first half, which led to 18 points for UConn.
Freshman Jordin Canada scored seven points in the first four minutes of the second half to pull the Bruins to within 12 points, but UCLA would get no closer. UConn routinely capitalized on the Bruins' mistakes, turning UCLA's 16 turnovers into 28 points in the first 28 minutes of the game. UCLA finished with 21 turnovers, leading to 32 points off turnovers for the Huskies.
Breanna Stewart had a game-high 22 points and added five rebounds and five blocks (all in the first half), to lead the Huskies. UConn had five players in double figures, which also included Gabby Williams (12 points), Kia Nurse (11 points), Morgan Tuck (10 points) and Kiah Stokes (10 points).
Freshman Jordin Canada was the only other Bruin to reach double figures with 12 points and added a team-high four assists. Senior Corinne Costa contributed six points, five rebounds, one assist and one block for UCLA.
For the game, UCLA shot 32.2 percent (19-for-59) from the field while UConn finished at 56.0 percent (33-for-59). The Bruins ended up losing the battle of the boards in the final minutes, 36-35, but had 19 offensive rebounds against the Huskies.
UCLA returns to action on Dec. 28 when they host No. 5 Notre Dame on "Snow Day" at Pauley Pavilion. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. (PT) on the Pac-12 Networks.
Women's basketball season tickets are on sale at the UCLA Central Ticket Office (310-UCLA-WIN). For more ticket information, or to buy tickets now, click here.
