University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Women's Basketball Falls to Alabama on Controversial Shot
March 15, 1998
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Latoya Caudle's jumper from the top of the key as time expired lifted No. 11 Alabama to a 75-74 win over No. 23 UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional on Sunday night.
Trailing 74-73 with 0.8 seconds left to play, Brittney Ezell's inbound pass hit Dominique Canty, who tipped it to Caudle. Caudle immediately fired up the winning shot, which hit the backboard before falling in.
But UCLA coach Kathy Olivier claimed the clock never started, so Caudle's shot could not possibly have gotten off in time. Olivier also complained that before inbounding the ball, Ezell ran along the baseline - which is illegal after a timeout.
Olivier filed an official protest and officials gathered on the floor for more than 20 minutes to review the play. The officials ruled that the play was good and the game was over.
The seventh-seeded Bruins (20-9) had gone up 74-73 with 1.8 to play on a Maylana Martin free throw and looked to be in position to hand the second-seeded Crimson Tide (24-9) its first-ever tournament loss in Tuscaloosa. Alabama had entered the game having won 10 straight games at home.
With the game tied 73-73 with 23 seconds to play, Canty was looking for the winning shot, but tripped along the baseline and UCLA recovered the ball.
The Bruins took the ball downcourt, but didn't appear to have enough time to get a shot off. But Tausha Mills fouled Martin, sending the sophomore to the line, where she made the first of two free throws.
Alabama got the rebound and trailing 74-73, immediately called timeout. Ezell, one of five Tide seniors, then took the ball with .8 on the clock and hurled it almost the length of the court.
Canty finished with 28 points for Alabama.