University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Sunday, December 30
Los Angeles, CA
2:00 PM
UCLA
72
at
65
USC
1
2
3
4
F
UCLA
13
15
31
13
72
Southern California
19
20
10
16
65
Michaela Onyenwere eclipsed the 25-point mark for the fourth time this season, finishing with a game-high 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
Onyenwere, UCLA Fight Back to Defeat USC 72-65
December 30, 2018 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Both sophomore Michaela Onyenwere and senior Lajahna Drummer posted double-doubles, as the UCLA women's hoops team came from 13 down to defeat the USC Women of Troy 72-65 on Sunday afternoon at Galen Center.
UCLA (8-5) won its fifth in a row and shot 57.9 percent (11-for-19) in the third quarter to outscore USC 31-10 and erase an 11-point halftime deficit.
Onyenwere was two points shy of tying her career high, finishing with a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds. After hitting just one three last season, Onyenwere went 3-for-6 from deep against USC.
Drummer also had success from distance, going 2-for-2 from 3-point range and recording 10 points and 14 rebounds, which tied a career high for boards. Senior Kennedy Burke also scored in double figures, adding 11 points to go along with a season-best six assists.
The Storyline
The first quarter saw two ties and three lead changes before USC used a 16-3 run to take an 18-9 lead. UCLA struggled to take care of the ball in the opening frame, coughing up seven turnovers; however, the Bruins notched two baskets inside from redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro and Onyenwere to pull within six (19-13) after one.
Onyenwere connected on her second 3-pointer of the day and then scored a put-back to pull UCLA within four (22-18) early in the second quarter. The Bruins managed to hang around until the midway point of the frame, getting a jumper from freshman Ahlana Smith to keep within four (26-22) at the 4:41 mark, but the Women of Troy hit five of their next seven from the field to extend their advantage to 39-28 at the half.
The third quarter was a different story for UCLA, as the Bruins outscored USC 31-10 in the frame and nailed five triples in the quarter. An 8-0 UCLA run, which included treys from Onyenwere and Burke, helped the Bruins trim the deficit to 41-36 to open the quarter. UCLA rode that momentum to spark an 18-4 run, as senior Japreece Dean found Onyenwere inside for the layup and then Burke nailed two at the stripe to put the Bruins in front, 44-43.
Drummer scored the final eight points for UCLA in the third, which included a 3-pointer, put-back off a free throw miss and 3-pointer buzzer beater to cap the quarter and put the Bruins up 59-49 entering the fourth quarter.
USC (10-2) cut UCLA's lead to seven (63-56) before the Bruins responded with a 9-4 run to push it to double digits (72-60) after a layup by Onyenwere with 2:48 remaining. In crunch time, USC missed two free throws and opted not to foul as the Bruins exited Galen Center with a win.
Key Stats of the Game
13 – UCLA overcame a 13-point deficit, the largest comeback of the season (defeated No. 14 Georgia on Nov. 14 after trailing by 12).
31 – The Bruins erupted for 31 third-quarter points, which matches the most points scored in a quarter this season (31 in fourth quarter vs. Georgia). In that frame, UCLA turned an 11-point deficit (39-28) into a 10-point lead (59-49).
Up Next
UCLA heads to the Bay Area to face No. 14 California (Jan. 4) and No. 6 Stanford (Jan. 6). Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
UCLA (8-5) won its fifth in a row and shot 57.9 percent (11-for-19) in the third quarter to outscore USC 31-10 and erase an 11-point halftime deficit.
Onyenwere was two points shy of tying her career high, finishing with a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds. After hitting just one three last season, Onyenwere went 3-for-6 from deep against USC.
Drummer also had success from distance, going 2-for-2 from 3-point range and recording 10 points and 14 rebounds, which tied a career high for boards. Senior Kennedy Burke also scored in double figures, adding 11 points to go along with a season-best six assists.
The Storyline
The first quarter saw two ties and three lead changes before USC used a 16-3 run to take an 18-9 lead. UCLA struggled to take care of the ball in the opening frame, coughing up seven turnovers; however, the Bruins notched two baskets inside from redshirt freshman Lindsey Corsaro and Onyenwere to pull within six (19-13) after one.
Onyenwere connected on her second 3-pointer of the day and then scored a put-back to pull UCLA within four (22-18) early in the second quarter. The Bruins managed to hang around until the midway point of the frame, getting a jumper from freshman Ahlana Smith to keep within four (26-22) at the 4:41 mark, but the Women of Troy hit five of their next seven from the field to extend their advantage to 39-28 at the half.
The third quarter was a different story for UCLA, as the Bruins outscored USC 31-10 in the frame and nailed five triples in the quarter. An 8-0 UCLA run, which included treys from Onyenwere and Burke, helped the Bruins trim the deficit to 41-36 to open the quarter. UCLA rode that momentum to spark an 18-4 run, as senior Japreece Dean found Onyenwere inside for the layup and then Burke nailed two at the stripe to put the Bruins in front, 44-43.
8-0 run and we're right back in it! ??????
— UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 30, 2018
41-36 USC | 3Q | 6:44 pic.twitter.com/KSRkXdweo8
Drummer scored the final eight points for UCLA in the third, which included a 3-pointer, put-back off a free throw miss and 3-pointer buzzer beater to cap the quarter and put the Bruins up 59-49 entering the fourth quarter.
WHY NOT?! ?????@Lajahnaa with the buzzer beater and the Bruins lead 59-49 after three! ??
— UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 30, 2018
UCLA is 7-for-16 from deep! pic.twitter.com/x1GGwykAX3
USC (10-2) cut UCLA's lead to seven (63-56) before the Bruins responded with a 9-4 run to push it to double digits (72-60) after a layup by Onyenwere with 2:48 remaining. In crunch time, USC missed two free throws and opted not to foul as the Bruins exited Galen Center with a win.
Key Stats of the Game
13 – UCLA overcame a 13-point deficit, the largest comeback of the season (defeated No. 14 Georgia on Nov. 14 after trailing by 12).
31 – The Bruins erupted for 31 third-quarter points, which matches the most points scored in a quarter this season (31 in fourth quarter vs. Georgia). In that frame, UCLA turned an 11-point deficit (39-28) into a 10-point lead (59-49).
Up Next
UCLA heads to the Bay Area to face No. 14 California (Jan. 4) and No. 6 Stanford (Jan. 6). Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
Team Stats
F-110
F-657
FG%
.433
.387
3FG%
.421
.273
FT%
.667
.524
RB
49
33
TO
15
10
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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