UCLA
Notre Dame
UCLA Ends Non-Conference Slate with 82-67 setback to No. 4 Notre Dame
December 29, 2014 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Nirra Fields scored 20 points, but it wasn't enough to defeat No. 4 Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish posted their third straight win over UCLA in Los Angeles, 82-67, on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion.
Lindsay Allen scored a career-high 22 points and set numerous other personal bests to help the Fighting Irish post their fourth straight victory.
Allen was 8 of 10 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. The sophomore guard matched her previous career high of 17 points by halftime and set career highs in field goals and 3-pointers made.
"Lindsay was phenomenal," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "She really, really played well and really carried the team. She stepped up."
With Allen firing on all cylinders early, Notre Dame (12-1) went into halftime with a comfortable 42-29 lead. The Irish kept it up in the second half and never let UCLA (4-7) get closer than nine points after the break.
Freshman Brianna Turner added 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for her first career double-double and Jewell Lloyd had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Notre Dame. Michaela Mabrey had 11 points to give the Irish four players in double figures and six players made at least three field goals.
Freshman Jordin Canada was the only other Bruin to reach double figures with 16 points. The Bruins are 0-5 against Top 25 teams this season. Freshman Monique Billings had a little bit of everything for UCLA with five points, five rebounds, a season-high four steals, two blocks and one assist.
UCLA struggled to shoot from pretty much anywhere. The Bruins shot 33.3 percent (23 of 69) from the field overall, 32 percent (7 of 22) from 3-point range and 52 percent (14 of 27) from the free-throw line in their nonconference finale.
"We just have to hold the mirror up for how we got exposed," UCLA coach Cori Close said. "We have a fresh start going into conference. We need to mentally know that no one else went into battle like us this preseason (facing five Top 25 teams) and build off that."
TIPS-INS
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have won five of the past six matchups against UCLA, including the last three in Los Angeles. The Bruins still lead the series 9-7. The Irish extended their road winning streak to 29 games, the longest active streak in the NCAA and tied for second-longest ever.
UCLA: The Bruins have lost their last 12 games against Top 25 opponents. Their last win came Nov. 24, 2013, against then-No. 10 Oklahoma. They registered a season-high 23 offensive rebounds. UCLA is the only team in the country this season to play both of last year's finalists in back-to-back games, but not the only team to play both so far this season as DePaul lost to both teams within nine days of each other.
COMPLET EFFORT
The Fighting Irish had a better shooting percentage (50-33.3), and more rebounds (44-41), and assists (18-11) than the Bruins. Notre Dame's only black mark was a season-high 23 turnovers, but UCLA could only convert those into 17 points.
McDONALD'S FLAVOR
A combined 10 McDonald's High School All-Americans played in the game: Notre Dame's Lloyd, Allen, Turner, Mabrey, Taya Reimer and Kathryn Westbeld and UCLA's Fields, Canada, Reece' Caldwell, and Lajahna Drummer.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame: Hosts Florida State on Friday.
UCLA: Visits Southern California on Tuesday to open Pac-12 play on the Pac-12 Networks at 6:00 p.m. (PT).
