Friday, November 23
St. Thomas, VI
10:00 AM
UCLA
3-3
74
vs
75
Kentucky
6-0
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
UCLA
15
16
14
21
8
74
Kentucky
14
27
6
19
9
75
Sophomore Michaela Onyenwere registered a career-high 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting.ย
Onyenwere Nets 28, but Bruins Drop Overtime Heartbreaker to Kentucky, 75-74
November 23, 2018 | Women's Basketball
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands โ The UCLA women's basketball team overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to force overtime against unbeaten Kentucky, but the Bruins came up just short, falling 75-74 to the Wildcats on Friday afternoon at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.
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Sophomore Michaela Onyenwere registered a career-high 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half. She shot 12-for-18 and also had eight rebounds and two blocks.
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UCLA (3-3) held Kentucky (6-0) to just six third-quarter points to get back in the contest and then shot 81.8 percent (9-for-11) in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
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Senior Kennedy Burke posted 18 points, seven boards and three dimes, while Japreece Dean added 10 points.
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On the glass, redshirt senior Lajahna Drummer and redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro were both solid, collecting 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
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The Storyline
UCLA was all over the place early, snagging five offensive rebounds in the opening five minutes and charging to a 7-3 lead after Corsaro buried a triple at the top of the key. After Kentucky knotted the game at seven apiece, Onyenwere mustered a 6-0 run of her own, capping it with a pull-up jumper to make it 13-7 Bruins.
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Onyenwere continued her aggressive play on the offensive end in the second quarter, scoring her eighth point of the contest to put the Bruins up four (21-17). However, Kentucky amped up its defensive pressure and responded with a 12-4 run to take a four-point (29-25) lead. A runner by Dean in the lane tied the game at 29 before Kentucky went 4-for-5 to close the first half and extend its lead to 41-31 at the break. ย
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In the third quarter, UCLA heldย Kentucky to just four points in the first eight minutes of the frame to pull within six (45-39). Onyenwere scored the Bruins' last six points of the third, helping UCLA trim the gap to just two.
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Riding momentum from a tenacious comeback, UCLA took its first lead (49-47) of the second half on a strong drive by Burke with 8:10 left to go. The Bruins went on to shoot 9-for-11 from the field in the quarter, largely because Onyenwere took over. The Colorado native was everywhere for UCLA, scoring 11 points in the stanza on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting.
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On a free throw miss, Onyenwere rose above Kentucky defenders for the tip-in to put UCLA up 66-64 with 21 seconds remaining, but a Wildcat bucket at the 0.7 mark sent the game into overtime.
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In overtime, Burke went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to tie the game at 74 with 17 seconds left, and on the Wildcats' next possession, the Bruins were charged with a foul with only three ticks on the clock.
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Kentucky went 1-for-2, allowing UCLA one last chance, but the Bruins came up empty on a tough baseline look.
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Despite the loss, the Bruins shot a season-best 51.7 percent (30-for-58) from the field and outscored Kentucky in the paint, 48-22.
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Key Stats of the Game
28 โ It was a fine day for Onyenwere, who posted a career-best 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
+12 โ Once again, UCLA owned the glass, outrebounding Kentucky 46-34 on the day for a +12 margin, the Bruins' third double-digit edge on the glass this season.
16 โ Unfortunately for UCLA, the Bruins left 16 points at the free throw line, going 12-for-28.
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Up Next
The Bruins close out the Paradise Jam tomorrow vs. No. 17 South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for noon (PT).
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ย
ย
Sophomore Michaela Onyenwere registered a career-high 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half. She shot 12-for-18 and also had eight rebounds and two blocks.
ย
UCLA (3-3) held Kentucky (6-0) to just six third-quarter points to get back in the contest and then shot 81.8 percent (9-for-11) in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
ย
Senior Kennedy Burke posted 18 points, seven boards and three dimes, while Japreece Dean added 10 points.
ย
On the glass, redshirt senior Lajahna Drummer and redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro were both solid, collecting 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
ย
The Storyline
UCLA was all over the place early, snagging five offensive rebounds in the opening five minutes and charging to a 7-3 lead after Corsaro buried a triple at the top of the key. After Kentucky knotted the game at seven apiece, Onyenwere mustered a 6-0 run of her own, capping it with a pull-up jumper to make it 13-7 Bruins.
ย
Onyenwere continued her aggressive play on the offensive end in the second quarter, scoring her eighth point of the contest to put the Bruins up four (21-17). However, Kentucky amped up its defensive pressure and responded with a 12-4 run to take a four-point (29-25) lead. A runner by Dean in the lane tied the game at 29 before Kentucky went 4-for-5 to close the first half and extend its lead to 41-31 at the break. ย
ย
In the third quarter, UCLA heldย Kentucky to just four points in the first eight minutes of the frame to pull within six (45-39). Onyenwere scored the Bruins' last six points of the third, helping UCLA trim the gap to just two.
ย
Riding momentum from a tenacious comeback, UCLA took its first lead (49-47) of the second half on a strong drive by Burke with 8:10 left to go. The Bruins went on to shoot 9-for-11 from the field in the quarter, largely because Onyenwere took over. The Colorado native was everywhere for UCLA, scoring 11 points in the stanza on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting.
ย
On a free throw miss, Onyenwere rose above Kentucky defenders for the tip-in to put UCLA up 66-64 with 21 seconds remaining, but a Wildcat bucket at the 0.7 mark sent the game into overtime.
ย
In overtime, Burke went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to tie the game at 74 with 17 seconds left, and on the Wildcats' next possession, the Bruins were charged with a foul with only three ticks on the clock.
ย
Kentucky went 1-for-2, allowing UCLA one last chance, but the Bruins came up empty on a tough baseline look.
ย
Despite the loss, the Bruins shot a season-best 51.7 percent (30-for-58) from the field and outscored Kentucky in the paint, 48-22.
ย
Key Stats of the Game
28 โ It was a fine day for Onyenwere, who posted a career-best 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
+12 โ Once again, UCLA owned the glass, outrebounding Kentucky 46-34 on the day for a +12 margin, the Bruins' third double-digit edge on the glass this season.
16 โ Unfortunately for UCLA, the Bruins left 16 points at the free throw line, going 12-for-28.
ย
Up Next
The Bruins close out the Paradise Jam tomorrow vs. No. 17 South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for noon (PT).
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Team Stats
UCLA
UK
FG%
.517
.369
3FG%
.250
.474
FT%
.429
.750
RB
46
34
TO
19
13
STL
7
12
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
12
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballF
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