UCLA has no bounce in loss to Pepperdine

The youth lost some of its exuberance. The bench seemed to cause more discontinuity than depth. Even the veteran players on the UCLA women’s basketball team were having a hard time adjusting Wednesday night at Pepperdine.

The Bruins, coming off a frustrating loss to No. 3 Maryland, added a new element to their aggravation, failing to keep up with the Waves in a 91-79 loss.

“This could have been a bounce-back game,” said UCLA senior forward Lindsey Pluimer, referring to the 79-75 loss Sunday to the Terrapins, when the Bruins blew a 16-point lead with 6 1/2 minutes remaining. “We needed to come out here and really take it to them.”

Instead, UCLA fell behind by 10 points in the first half, climbed out of the hole early in the second, but was outscored, 33-21, over the final nine minutes.

The Bruins (3-2) had the size advantage and several opportunities to produce easy baskets, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds to 11 for the Waves, but misfired often and were outscored on second-chance points, 15-12.

“We need to know what to do with our size and take it slow,” UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier said.

Daphanie Kennedy scored 27 points and had nine assists to lead the Waves (3-2). Miranda Ayim, despite limited minutes because of foul trouble, had 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Pluimer, UCLA’s lone senior and only returning starter, scored 15 points on seven-for-15 shooting. Tierra Henderson also scored a career-high 15 points. Otherwise, it was a quiet night for UCLA.

Freshman point guard Doreena Campbell was held to single digits for the first time. Guarded by Kennedy, Campbell scored nine points and did not have an assist.

Freshman center Regina Rogers had 12 points and 16 rebounds in 22 minutes.

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dan.arritt@latimes.com