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.
Onyenwere Nets 28, but Bruins Drop Overtime Heartbreaker to Kentucky, 75-74
November 23, 2018 | Women's Basketball
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – 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.
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.
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.
Senior Kennedy Burke posted 18 points, seven boards and three dimes, while Japreece Dean added 10 points.
On the glass, redshirt senior Lajahna Drummer and redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro were both solid, collecting 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
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.
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.
In the third quarter, UCLA held 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.
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.
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.
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.
Kentucky went 1-for-2, allowing UCLA one last chance, but the Bruins came up empty on a tough baseline look.
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.
Key Stats of the Game
28 – It was a fine day for Onyenwere, who posted a career-best 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
+12 – 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 – Unfortunately for UCLA, the Bruins left 16 points at the free throw line, going 12-for-28.
Up Next
The Bruins close out the Paradise Jam tomorrow vs. No. 17 South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for noon (PT).
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.
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.
Senior Kennedy Burke posted 18 points, seven boards and three dimes, while Japreece Dean added 10 points.
On the glass, redshirt senior Lajahna Drummer and redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro were both solid, collecting 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
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.
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.
In the third quarter, UCLA held 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.
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.
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.
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.
Kentucky went 1-for-2, allowing UCLA one last chance, but the Bruins came up empty on a tough baseline look.
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.
Key Stats of the Game
28 – It was a fine day for Onyenwere, who posted a career-best 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
+12 – 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 – Unfortunately for UCLA, the Bruins left 16 points at the free throw line, going 12-for-28.
Up Next
The Bruins close out the Paradise Jam tomorrow vs. No. 17 South Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for noon (PT).
Team Stats
UCLA
UK
FG%
.517
.369
3FG%
.250
.474
FT%
.429
.750
RB
46
34
TO
19
13
STL
7
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
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
F
/ Women's BasketballF
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