UCLA
4-1 #9/10
Iowa
4-2
No. 9 UCLA Defeats Iowa, 78-65
November 24, 2016 | Women's Basketball
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CANCUN, Mexico (AP) -- Monique Billings scored a career-high 27 points to help No. 9 UCLA beat Iowa 78-65 on Thursday night at the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
"I was just trying to play hard for my team," Billings said. "I got some deep seals and Iowa was really trying to take away our threes and our guards did a great job of passing it in and I was able to finish. I practiced a lot of free throws this week. I struggled last week from the line and just tried to get batter at it."
Billings made nine of her 12 shots and was 9 for 9 from the free throw line for the Bruins (4-1). Jordin Canada and Kennedy Burke each added 13 points for UCLA. Canada scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter and combined with Billings (11 points) to score all 20 points for UCLA in the final period.
"I was so excited to see Monique go 9-for-9 from the free-throw line," UCLA Head Coach Cori Close said. "I'm thrilled for her career high. She's a big-time All-American type player, but I'm most proud of her growth at the free-throw line."
UCLA led by four at halftime and Iowa (4-2) cut the margin to two early in the third quarter, but was unable to get any closer.
"I'm really proud of our team," Close said. "I didn't think it was our most fluid game. Things didn't come easy for us in transition. We usually had to go to our third and fourth options. I'm excited for the grit that we showed and that we found a way to get the win."
Ally Disterhoft scored 16 points and Megan Gustafson added 15 to lead the Hawkeyes.After a back-and-forth first half, UCLA led 42-38 at the break. Trailing 35-30, the Bruins went on a 12-3 run that was sparked by a three-pointer from Burke, to close the opening 20 minutes with a lead.
"We did a good job of moving the ball and looking for the open person," Burke said. "When our shots weren't going in, we did a good job of rebounding the ball and playing solid defense."
BIG PICTURE
UCLA: After falling one assist short of a second consecutive triple-double on Sunday, Canada had two rebounds and six assists in this one. ... For the first time since 1999-2000 and the third time in program history, UCLA was picked to win the Pac-12.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes fell to 7-2 in Cancun. ... Coming into the game, the Hawkeyes led the nation in rebounds with 239 in five games.
"Jordin was frustrated in the first half and needed her team," Close said. "She always puts the team on her back, but in the first half, she needed her team. I thought our team really showed up for her and did a great job of keeping her calm. And for her to have the confidence and come back and take control of the game and hit huge shots in the fourth quarter, really showed who she is."
UP NEXT
UCLA will play Toledo in its final game in Cancun.
Iowa plays James Madison on Friday in its tournament finale.
No. 9/10 UCLA vs. Iowa (Cancun Challenge)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| No. 9/10 UCLA | 22 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 78 |
| Iowa | 22 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 65 |
