SALT LAKE CITY – Without its leading scorer in junior guard Nirra Fields, the UCLA Bruins maintained their dominance over the Utah Utes with a 49-46 win on Friday night at the Huntsman Center. The Bruins improved to 6-9 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12 while the Utes dropped to 6-8 overall and 0-3 in league play.
The Bruins improved to 8-3 all-time against Utah and have won seven meetings in a row, all since the Utes joined the Pac-12. UCLA has also won all three contests in Salt Lake City.
UCLA regained the services of freshman guard Jordin Canada, who sported a mask after breaking her nose in practice on Jan. 2. She was dynamic and fearless, slicing in the paint for a game-high 16 pointss. She also added team-highs of six rebounds and four assists.
The Bruins trailed 23-21 at halftime despite leading for all but the last :17 of the first half. The Bruins outshot the Utes 33.3 percent (8-for-24) to 28.6 percent (8-for-28) from the field. Both teams grabbed 19 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes, but UCLA only had four offensive rebounds, which is usually a strength, compared to six for Utah. Turnovers continued to be a problem for UCLA as they committed 10, four on illegal screens and two on 3-seconds in the key. Utah was whistled for eight.
Utah led by as many as five points (31-26, 15:20) in the second half before UCLA went on a 9-2 run to take a 35-33 lead on a pair of free throws by Canada (10:31). The scoring drought for Utah ended with a basket by Nakia Arquette at the 8:03 mark, with the Utes going 7:17 without a point. The Bruins led for the final 10:31. Kacy Swain made one of two free throws with 14 seconds left to give UCLA a 49-46 lead. The Bruins got the stop at the end, forcing a miss by Danielle Rodriguez from beyond the arc with five seconds remaining.
UCLA again struggled on offense for the third straight outing, scoring in the 40s all three games. The Bruins shot 36 percent from the floor (17-for-47) while holding Utah to 30.0 percent (17-for-57). UCLA won the battle of the boards, 38-37 with both teams committing 15 turnovers. UCLA also struggled from the charity stripe, sinking just 55 percent (11-for-20).
Korver ended the night with 15 points (10 in the first half). Freshman point guard Recee' Caldwell added eight points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal without making a turnover in 21 minutes.
Taryn Wicijowski was the lone Ute in double figures with 14 points and just missed a double-double with nine boards.
UP NEXT
UTAH: Hosts USC on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 on the Pac-12 Networks at 12:00 p.m. (MT).
UCLA: Travels to Colorado on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 on the Pac-12 Networks at 1:00 p.m. (PT).