Sunday, January 29
Salt Lake City, UT
11:00 AM

UCLA

17-5,6-4Pac-12

69
at
71

Utah

18-2,7-2Pac-12

1
2
3
4
F
UCLA
16
23
19
11
69
Utah
16
20
18
17
71
Christeen Iwuala backs down defender (Jan. 29)
Photo by: Carlie Heuple

No. 8 UCLA Falls at No. 9 Utah, 69-71

January 29, 2023 | Women's Basketball

SALT LAKE CITY – UCLA Women's Basketball (17-5, 6-4 Pac-12) fell to the Utes (18-2, 7-2 Pac-12) in the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Sunday.
 
Emily Bessoir led the way for the Bruins, scoring a career-high 17 points in the effort. Kiki Rice (11 points, 5-6 FT), Londynn Jones (10 points) and Gabriela Jaquez (10 points) reached double figures in Sunday's game.
 
UCLA held Utah to .383 FG% in the game, the third-worst shooting performance from the Utes this season. The Bruins were outrebounded for just the sixth time this season, coming down with 30 rebounds to Utah's 36.
 
The Bruins opened the game on an 8-0 run against Utah; Camryn Brown assisted on UCLA's first two baskets and Kiki Rice added a pair of free throws. Bessoir led the way with six points through the first, shooting a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point land.
 

 
The Bruins and Utes were tied at 16 through the first period.
 
Rice, Jaquez and Jones combined for 15 of UCLA's second-quarter points. Rice spun to the rim on the last possession of the first half, getting a layup to give the Bruins a three-point lead. UCLA was up 39-36 heading into the break.
 

 
UCLA let up an 8-2 run to start the second half, but back-to-back assists from Christeen Iwuala kept the Bruins in the game after the first media timeout. The Bruins extended their lead to eight after returning to play and closed out the quarter up 58-54.
 
Camryn Brown finished a layup and Jaquez knocked down a pair of attempts from the charity stripe to give UCLA another eight-point lead in the fourth before the Utes started to claw back. The Bruins led 69-64 with just under two minutes to go.
 
Utah closed out the game on a 7-0 run; Alissa Pili had the final five points of the game, scoring a three-pointer and a layup with 0.8 seconds left on the clock. Londynn Jones got a long two-point attempt off but hit rim, missing the shot as time expired.
 
UP NEXT: vs. Arizona (Feb. 3)
 
The Bruins return to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Friday, Feb. 3 to host the No. 19/14 Arizona Wildcats (16-5, 6-4 Pac-12). Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. PST with the game to be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
 

Team Stats

UCLA
Utah
FG%
.400
.383
3FG%
.450
.269
FT%
.632
.947
RB
30
36
TO
13
16
STL
10
3

Game Leaders

Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2

Players Mentioned

F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
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