The UCLA girls’s basketball workforce maintained the identical competitiveness it has displayed at residence all season, even when the Bruins residence gymnasium was an hour away from campus in Lengthy Seashore.
Pressured out of Pauley Pavilion due to wildfires that proceed to burn close to Westwood, the No. 1 Bruins hosted Penn State at Walter Pyramid on Wednesday evening. The venue change didn’t faze UCLA, which earned an 83-67 victory and set a program file with its 17-0 begin to the season.
Nonetheless, the eight days main as much as the sport — marked by fires, postponements and venue adjustments — took a toll on coach Cori Shut and the Bruins.
“This has been a really hard week,” Shut stated. “There’s been some real anxiousness and difficulty, and we get to play, and there has to be this sense of gratitude.”
The win, nonetheless, was removed from excellent for the Bruins, with Shut addressing the “weird balance” of being grateful to play however not utilizing the adversity as an excuse for the workforce’s efficiency.
“I don’t think our players would want us to lower the standard in the time that we have in between the lines,” Shut stated. She added that there are not any shortcuts for her workforce on the court docket.
Lauren Betts dominated on each ends of the ground, powering UCLA with 22 factors, 12 rebounds, seven blocks and 4 assists. She recorded her ninth double-double of the season and showcased her effectivity, taking pictures 10 for 16 from the sphere.
Apart from Betts, Shut says her workforce didn’t play effectively sufficient collectively within the win. The coach stated Betts’ historic evening — a single sport record-tying seven-block efficiency — made up for “how poorly we played.”
UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) drives previous Penn State guard Shaelyn Steele Wednesday in Lengthy Seashore.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Related Press)
Though it was a double-digit victory, the Bruins began slowly. Shut felt that Penn State was extra aggressive for a lot of the sport — aside from the second quarter, when the Bruins outscored Penn State 27-11.
“I just think we didn’t show up the way we needed,” Betts stated when requested if the previous week’s circumstances affected the workforce’s efficiency. “… I just think, like in practice, I thought preparing for this game we could have done a lot better.”
A lot of their early manufacturing got here from Betts, who battled by a tricky matchup in opposition to 6-foot-6 Penn State heart Gracie Merkle, holding a prime 10 Massive Ten scorer and rebounder to 5 factors and two rebounds.
UCLA ended the primary quarter taking pictures 41.2% from the sphere, largely due to Betts’ scoring within the submit, however nonetheless trailed 19-17 — its lowest level complete in 1 / 4 because the Nov. 4 opener in opposition to Louisville.
The Bruins struggled from past the arc, ending 7-for-25 (28%) from three-point vary and simply 37-for-74 (47.3%) from the sphere.
“We were settling for jump shots and open threes,” Shut stated. “Once we started reacting out of paint touches… attacking off the bounce, then we started to hit a few of those, and that was the difference.”
UCLA’s offense discovered its vitality by attacking the rim, significantly in transition after turnovers, led by Kiki Rice. Her protection sparked a number of fast-break alternatives.
Rice was certainly one of 4 Bruins in double figures, ending with 10 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals.
Angela Dugalic contributed 11 factors and eight rebounds, whereas Gabriela Jaquez added 10 factors and 7 rebounds.
The dearth of scoring effectivity allowed Penn State to remain shut early, with the Bruins and Lions buying and selling leads eight occasions through the back-and-forth battle.
UCLA coach Cori Shut catches guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) as she reached for a ball going out of bounds throughout a win over Penn State Wednesday in Lengthy Seashore.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Related Press)
UCLA’s zone protection ultimately began incomes stops, permitting the Bruins to construct a lead.
Regardless of main by as a lot as 23 within the second half, UCLA allowed Penn State to hold round. Penn State clawing its means again to a single-digit deficit, outscoring UCLA 16-12 early within the fourth quarter and chopping the Bruins’ result in seven factors.
“We just weren’t the aggressors,” Shut stated. “We weren’t playing as hard, and we weren’t sitting in our stance, and we weren’t fighting and being physical with them.”
With 4 minutes remaining, Shut referred to as a timeout to problem her workforce.
“It’s about our defense. And you know this was good enough, and who was going to step up and make sure we got stops,” Shut stated. “Yes, stop the run, but like what is this worth to you?’ And just a personal challenge of how much does it mean?”
UCLA shot 41.2% from the sphere within the closing quarter, however a late 7-0 run by spearheaded by Londynn Jones, Jaquez and Rice put the sport out of attain.
Shut says the aim for the Bruins is to proceed “shining for our city” and hopes they are going to hold competing “in such a way that shows our commitment to mastering our craft, so we may bring joy and inspire others.”
