LOS ANGELES – On a game dedicated to the seniors, a pair of Bruin freshmen stole the show, as UCLA (11-16, 7-9) ran away with a 75-41 victory over Arizona (9-18, 2-14) on Sunday afternoon in front of 2,122 fans in Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins got off to a slow start as Arizona scored the game's first four points and led 9-5 with 16:45 to go in the first half. But then UCLA went on an 11-0 run to lead 16-9 on a layup by freshman Monique Billings (11:21), who was one of two Bruins in double figures. Billings ended with 10 points and four rebounds in just 12 minutes.
Leading 24-16 with 5:59 left in the first half, UCLA engineered a 16-7 run to extend its lead to 40-23 at the break.
Unlike in past games, the Bruins' never let their opponent make a run.
UCLA opened the second half on another 11-0 streak with senior Madeline Poteet scoring five points during the run. When the dust settled after a jumper by freshman Jordin Canada, UCLA led by 28 points (51-23) at the 13:59 mark. Arizona never got closer than 26 points the rest of the way. Meanwhile the Bruins were enjoying their largest lead of the game at 37 points after a lay-up by freshman Paulina Hersler made it 68-31 with 5:35 to go.
UCLA shared the ball well, recording 19 assists, which were the most since the Bruins recorded 21 in the win over Sacramento State on Dec. 12, 2014.
Hayes finished the game with a season-high 12 points to lead UCLA, which had a season-high 11 different players score. Senior Corinne Costa had a solid game of eight points and had season-highs in rebounds (11) and assists (four). Poteet finished with seven points, four assists and three steals while fellow senior Luiana Livulo added seven points and five boards. Walk-on freshman Chrissy Baird scored the first two points of her young career, the Bruins' final points of the game with 1:25 to go.
UCLA shot 46.4 percent from the field (32-for-69) while turning in one of its best defensive efforts, holding the Wildcats to 26.3 percent shooting (15-for-57). The Bruins also hammered Arizona on the boards, winning 50-32, the second-highest rebound total of the year. UCLA also forced 21 turnovers (14 in the first half) and dominated all scoring totals (points off turnovers, 26-3; points in the paint, 28-14; second chance points, 15-1 and bench points (38-19).
Arizona was led by Malena Washington, who was the lone Wildcat in double figures with 15 points (3-for-7 from three-point range).
TIP-INS
Arizona: The Wildcats have not won at UCLA since 2007. The 41 points Arizona scored tied for the fewest this season for the 'Cats (also had 41 in an 88-41 home loss to Arizona State). The 26.3 percent shooting was the second lowest of the year, just behind the 26.2 percent at California. The Bruins held Arizona's leading scorer, Candice Warthen (12.9 ppg) to just five points on 2-for-10 shooting.
UCLA: The Bruins' 34-point win over Arizona was the largest margin of victory over the Wildcats in 34 years. It was the fifth-largest over Arizona in program history and the most since a 37-point win (90-53) on Jan. 17, 1981.