University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Washington
UCLA Drops Regular Season Finale at Washington, 74-61
February 28, 2015 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE – The Bruins ended the regular season with a 74-61 setback at Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena on Saturday afternoon. UCLA (12-17, 8-10) ended the regular season in sixth and will face 11th-seed Utah/Arizona in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament here in Seattle on Thursday, Mar. 5. The Washington Huskies improved to 22-8 and 11-7 in league play, which put them as the fifth seed for next week's Tournament.
The Bruins got off to their worst start of the season, missing the first eight shots of the game while committing four turnovers. UCLA's first basket came at the 13:13 mark of the half on an great inbounds play with Kari Korver hitting Nirra Fields for a layup. UCLA trailed 10-2 when it made a mini 7-0 run to pull to within 10-9. But Washington pushed the lead back to 18-11 with an 8-2 run. The Bruins trailed then entire half, with the Husky's enjoying their largest lead of nine points (22-13) on a jumper by Aminah Williams.
Korver's hot shooting kept the Bruins in the game with 12 points in the opening 20 minutes. She was 3-for-3 from downtown and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Monique Billings had six points in the first half. Both teams shot 40 percent from the field while the Bruins outrebounded Washington 23-18.
Both teams started the second half the same as the first, with UW going on a 7-0 run while UCLA was missing shots and turning the ball over. Washington quickly pushed the lead to 11 on another jumper by Williams (41-30) with 17:39 to go. The Bruins, which never led, never threatened in the second half. Poor shooting and turnovers usually halted any momentum the Bruins could muster.
Washington enjoyed its biggest lead of the game of 17 points on a three-pointer by Talia Walton (5:12).
For the game, UCLA shot 35.4 percent from the field (23-for-65) while Washington made 41.7 percent (25-for-60). The Bruins outrebounded UW 45-40, but committed 19 turnovers compared to just 13 for the Huskies. UCLA also struggled from the free-throw line (.588, 10-for-17) while UW was 78.3 percent (18-for-23).
Korver led the Bruins with 15 points while Fields was right behind with 14 points. Jordin Canada finished with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds, but had a season-high nine turnovers. Two Bruins had double-digit rebounding efforts, led by season-high-tying efforts from Lajahna Drummer (11) and Kacy Swain (10).
Kelsey Plum led five Huskies (which only played six players in the game until the final minute) with 22 points. Williams had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Walton finished with 11 points and nine boards with Jazmine Davis adding 12 points. Chantel Osahor rounded out the five with 11 points.
TIP-INS
UW: The Huskies had a huge advantage in points off turnovers, beating UCLA 21-8 in that category, the same disparity as the margin of defeat.
UCLA: Kari Korver's four three-pointers (in five attempts) tied a season high and were one shy of her career high of five last year at Arizona State.
