LOS ANGELES – UCLA (10-13, 6-6) got back to .500 in Pac-12 play, sweeping Utah (7-16, 1-11) in the process with a 58-45 victory on Sunday afternoon in Pauley Pavilion.
Utah scored the first four points of the game, its largest lead of the contest. Trailing 8-5, the Bruins would respond with a 15-2 run to take a 20-10 lead on Utah, which culminated in a three by Kari Korver (7:12).
Danielle Rodriguez capped a 7-0 run with a three-pointer to bring Utah to within three 20-17 at the 4:30 mark. But the Bruins would later score the final eight points of the half, with Nirra Fields making the final basket with 0:51 to go to give the Bruins a 30-19 lead at the break.
The Bruins held Utah to 18.2 percent (6-for-33) shooting in the first half while knocking down 46.4 percent (13-for-28) from the field. Utah won the battle of the boards, 24-21, but had eight turnovers compared to just six for UCLA.
In the second half, the Bruins maintianed a double digit lead for the entire period, posting a double-digit win for just the fourth time this season.
Fields tied freshman Jordin Canada for game-high honors with 16 points apiece. Canada added a game-high five steals. Monique Billings had a solid game with seven points, six rebounds and two steals. Corinne Costa scored just two points, but had three blocks and hauled in a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Kelli Hayes was 2-for-2 from the field for a season-high four points against the Utes.
Rodriguez finished with 11 points to lead Utah. Tanaeya Boclair had a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards while Taryn Wicijowski was rounded out the trio of Utes in double figures with 10 points.
For the game, UCLA forced 16 Utah turnovers, leading to an 18-8 points off turnovers advantage. Utah outrebounded UCLA 44-42, but the Bruins outshot the Utes, 38.6 percent (22-for-57) to 27.4 percent (17-for-62).
TIP-INS
UTAH: Has lost eight straight to UCLA, all since the Utes joined the Pac-12 Conference.
UCLA: Redshirt sophomore guard Kari Korver was 2-for-5 from three-point range, finishing the game with nine points, extending her consecutive contests with a three-pointer to a team-best 10 games.
SWEEPS WEEK
UCLA completed a season sweep of the mountain schools this week after beating Colorado, 72-65 on Friday and defeating Utah, 58-45 on Sunday.
UP NEXT
UTAH: Hosts Washington on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 p.m. (MT).
UCLA: at California on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 8:00 p.m. 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.