UCLA
2-1 #9/11
Southern University
1-2
Record-Setting Night for No. 9 UCLA
November 19, 2016 | Women's Basketball
In a game that saw the Bruins beat Southern 95-47, a total of 23 personal bests and a school record were surpassed.
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) -- UCLA junior guard Jordin Canada was so focused on grabbing the one rebound she needed for her first career triple double that when teammate junior Monique Billings flung away the rebounded basketball they both held, Canada glared at her. Players and coaches on the UCLA bench all knew what was at stake and collectively groaned in disbelief.
Everyone finished with smiles because Canada grabbed her 10th rebound with 48 seconds left.
Canada had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to lead No. 9 UCLA to a 95-47 win over Southern University on Friday night in Pauley Pavilion.
It's the sixth triple-double in school history, and Canada also crossed the 1,000-point mark, a milestone she didn't realize she reached until after the game.
"It's also an honor. It's a great feeling to know that I've put in the work," Canada said. "I'm very proud of myself, but it's not all about points. Yes, it's a great honor, but it's not everything."
Billings had a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds, her fifth consecutive one dating back to last season. She also set a career-high with six steals.
But she drew the ire of her point guard.
"We have goals that we have to meet. Mo was one rebound away from getting 15 rebounds, which was her goal," Canada said. "I was one rebound away from getting a triple double. At the time, I thought she already met her goal. When the ball went up we both had it, and I was screaming because I wanted it. She took it away. I was mad. I didn't realize she hadn't met her goal until afterward, so I felt bad. We're just really passionate about getting our goals."
UCLA had just nine players available. Four players are injured and have yet to play this season.
Canada prides herself on passing, defending and, when a milestone is on the line, rebounding.
"I've never seen Jordin so mad at me running down the court," Billings said with a laugh. "She got her rebound too, after so it's all good."
Skylar O'Bear scored 14 points and Briana Green added 12 for Southern (1-2).
Kennedy Burke led the Bruins in scoring with 23 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers. UCLA had a school-record 14 3-pointers as a team, breaking the mark of 12 set against Hawai'i in 2009 and against Baylor in 2002.
BIG PICTURE:
Southern got the experience of playing one of the best teams in the country on the road and will have plenty of learning opportunities in a postgame film session.
UCLA has its sights set on a national championship and with a loss to No. 2 Baylor on the road four days ago, it showed the Bruins there's work to be done. UCLA dominated at home on Friday, where it plays so well, but hasn't won a road game against a ranked opponent in its last 13 consecutive games.
UP NEXT:
Southern University returns home to play Bethune-Cookman on Thursday but it's a one-game stint in New Orleans as the Jaguars play six of their first eight games on the road.
UCLA hosts Cal Poly on Sunday before traveling to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge, which starts on Thanksgiving.
QUOTABLE:
"I think we're still not playing anywhere close to what we're going to become. That's a good news-bad news. It's bad news because we missed an opportunity at Baylor. The good news is that there's no danger this group is going to peak early. We have so many things we still need to work on. On the other hand, we're shooting the ball great. We're a selfless team."
-- UCLA coach Cori Close on ways to improve after a 48-point win
Southern at No. 9/11 UCLA
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Southern | 13 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 47 |
| No. 9/11 UCLA | 27 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 95 |
