Despite Injuries, UCLA Women Make It to Final, 68-54

Despite the loss of two key players, the UCLA women’s basketball team came up with something it has sorely needed this season: a win at home.

The Bruins beat Northern Arizona, 68-54, Friday night before 628 fans in the UCLA-MacGregor Tournament at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins (7-7) were playing without starting center Dana Childs, who will be out from three to six weeks with a stress fracture of her left shin. Also injured is Shari Biggs, who sprained her left knee.

Both players who replaced the injured starters performed well. Susan Mead, a sophomore, started at center for the Bruins and showed a good touch underneath. She scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting.

Althea Ford, a freshman from Queens, N.Y., started at forward. Ford had a career-high 16 points.

“I think the fact that we were playing without those starters changes the chemistry,” UCLA Coach Billie Moore said. “Some of the younger players thought they had to shoulder the burden.”

Lucky for UCLA that it has senior Anne Dean. Dean scored 19 points to lead the Bruins. She scored a career-high 30 points last week against New Orleans.

“Anne played like a senior tonight; we needed that,” Moore said.

UCLA got off to a slow start in the first half. Neither team was shooting well. In the first half, the Bruins shot 43% and the Lumberjacks only 33%.

“We didn’t play with any intensity in the first half,” Moore said.

The Northern Arizona full-court press gave UCLA fits, causing five turnovers.

The Bruins held the lead for much of the half until Pecola Miller hit from inside to give Northern Arizona a 9-8 lead.

The Bruins, due to scoring help from Ford, were able to run up a seven-point lead twice during the half.

UCLA got its second seven-point lead when Tessa Franken, a 5-9 freshman from Dusseldorf, West Germany, hit a baseline jumper to make it 29-22. UCLA led at halftime, 29-25.

The Bruins adjusted to the press in the second half and cut its turnovers while stepping up its scoring.

Northern Arizona (8-6) relied mainly on Mindy Sherred and Julie Hanks, who had 15 points apiece.

In the earlier game, UC Santa Barbara beat New Mexico, 65-62. The Lobos (1-9) were led by Winifred Foster, who scored a game-high 23 points.

The Gauchos (5-8) were led by Dana Panfili with 16 points and Kira Anthoffer with 15.

UC Santa Barbara will play UCLA in tonight’s final at 8 p.m.