No. 23 UCLA Shuts Down Rice, 59-50

Sunday, November 11

Los Angeles, CA

2:00 PM

UCLA

1-1

Rice

0-2

Team	1	2	3	4	F
RICE	9	15	14	12	50
UCLA	13	17	15	14	59

• Sophomore Lauryn Miller scored a career-high 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting.

No. 23 UCLA Shuts Down Rice, 59-50

November 11, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

LOS ANGELES – The No. 23 UCLA women's basketball team used a stifling defensive effort to take down the Rice Owls, 59-50, in its 2018-19 home opener on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.

The Bruins (1-1) held Rice to just 38.1 percent shooting and scored 19 points off 20 Owl turnovers. UCLA also owned the glass, 37-31, pulling down 18 offensive rebounds on the afternoon.

Sophomore Lauryn Miller played big inside, scoring a career-high 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting, while redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro posted a team-high 12 points. Senior Japreece Dean added 10 points and four assists, and the Bruins got eight points and six boards apiece from senior Kennedy Burke and sophomore Michaela Onyenwere.

UCLA also regained the services of redshirt freshman Kayla Owens and senior Lajahna Drummer, who finished with eight points and drilled a critical three-pointer with 1:27 left to go that put UCLA up eight.

The Storyline
Although neither team managed to gain much separation early, UCLA's pressure defense forced Rice to start 3-for-13 from the field, helping the Bruins to a 13-9 advantage after one.

The Bruins were hampered by foul trouble in the second quarter, but Corsaro's play on both ends kept UCLA in the contest, as the redshirt freshman registered 10 first-half points to go along with five rebounds.

Trailing 24-23, UCLA erupted for a 7-0 run to cap the first half and take a 30-24 advantage into the locker room. Corsaro knocked down a three in the corner at the 1:49 mark of the stanza to make it 26-24 Bruins, and then Onyenwere converted back-to-back baskets inside to give the Bruins a small cushion.

UCLA's defensive pressure continued to wreak havoc in the third quarter, as the Bruins started 3-for-3 and notched six-straight defensive stops en route to taking a 38-27 advantage.

Miller's and-one to start the fourth frame made it 48-38 UCLA, but Rice (0-2) fired back with two-straight triples to cut the Bruin lead to just five (49-44) with 6:33 left to go. The two teams traded buckets in the next five minutes before Drummer connected from beyond the arc at the top of the key, making it 58-50 Bruins.

UCLA forced a miss on the Owls' next possession, causing Rice to foul down the stretch.

The Bruins improved to 7-1 in home openers under The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close.

Erika Ogwumike led the Owls with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Key Stats of the Game
41 – UCLA extended its winning streak against unranked opponents at home to 41 games.
18 – Once again, the Bruins attacked the glass with tenacity, pulling down 18 offensive rebounds. They had 28 on Nov. 6 at Loyola Marymount.
12 – The Bruins owned a 12-point (19-7) edge in points off turnovers.

Up Next
UCLA hosts (No. 14/13) Georgia on Wednesday for an 11 a.m. (PT) tip-off. The game will air live on Pac-12 Networks (Los Angeles).