Women’s Basketball : Bruins’ 86-64 Win Helps NCAA Chances

UCLA will be hosting the Women’s NCAA West Regionals at Pauley Pavilion on March 21 and 23, but few figured the Bruins would actually have a chance of playing there.

Remember, this was the team that lost twice to Cal State Long Beach by a combined 79 points this season and began play in the Western Collegiate Athletic Assn. with three losses.

But while UCLA is still a longshot to reach the NCAA’s round of 16, the Bruins greatly improved their chances of making the NCAA tournament by defeating San Diego State, 86-64, Wednesday night in a WCAA game played in front of 503 fans in Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins (8-4 in the WCAA and 17-9 overall), are half a game ahead of the Aztecs (8-5 and 19-8). San Diego State closes the season against sixth-place Stanford next Friday, while UCLA plays at Stanford and at USC next week.

It’s likely that both teams will defeat Stanford, so the Bruins must defeat USC again, this time at the Sports Arena, to claim sole possession of third place. The Bruins beat the Trojans, 77-73, Feb. 6.

Three teams--USC, Cal State Long Beach and San Diego State--made the tournament last year. If the Bruins lose to USC and finish in a tie for third with the Aztecs, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the NCAA will do.

Wednesday night’s game was never in doubt. The Bruins scored 17 straight points during a five-minute stretch of the first half and ran away with the game in the second.

Four players--Jackie Joyner (15 points), Herma Van deLagemaat (13), Annette Keur (13) and Anne Dean (10)--scored in double figures for the Bruins, while Van deLagemaat led the Bruins with 12 rebounds. Point guard Angel Hardy added 8 points and 7 assists.

It was the third straight game that Joyner led the Bruins in scoring. UCLA has won four straight.

“I think everyone still remembers the taste of being 0-3, and that’s been a big motivator for us,” UCLA Coach Billie Moore said. “We knew we were a better team than that, but we’ve been overlooked both nationally and locally. We executed well tonight and took advantage of some breaks.”

The Aztecs, who shot 36% from the field and committed 23 turnovers, were led by guards Penny Toler (19 points) and Dee Dee Duncan (13).