UCLA Unravels Fast in Dismal Showing at Rutgers

UCLA keeps scheduling these intersectional clashes and they all wind up being intersectional smashups.

The Bruins were beaten, 72-46, by No. 15 Rutgers Tuesday night, their third loss this season to a ranked team. No. 6 UCLA (5-3) was completely outclassed by much-quicker Rutgers (7-2), which forced 26 turnovers, to the delight of 1,812 in 9,000-seat Rutgers Athletic Center, and held the Bruins scoreless over the final 5:43.

And it could get much worse Thursday. The shell-shocked Bruins visit No. 1 Connecticut.

Not even senior point guard Erica Gomez could create any offense against the Scarlet Knights, who harassed Gomez and her teammates into turnovers all game. UCLA had 13 turnovers by halftime, yet trailed only 28-24.

Even more surprising, UCLA went more than nine minutes early in the first half without a point, with Rutgers fashioning a 15-0 run, three of the baskets created by perimeter steals and breakaways. Gomez alone had five turnovers.

UCLA fought back early in the second half, actually taking a 33-32 lead on a Gomez drive and free throw with 15:39 to play.

But 5-foot-10 Rutgers guard Shawnetta Stewart, a senior, was simply too much. She had 28 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Stewart, Linda Miles and Tasha Pointer played relentless perimeter defense, slashing, chopping and hacking away at seemingly every pass and if not stealing them outright, at least tipping them to teammates.

UCLA had eight three-point baskets in its victory over Cal State Fullerton last week, but facing a team challenging every perimeter shot, the Bruins were two for 13.

UCLA shot 34%, and, like all Rutgers opponents, didn’t score many points. Coming in, Rutgers had held opponents to season-low totals in five games. Make it six.

Rutgers Coach Vivian Stringer, the only coach in the women’s game to take three programs to the NCAA tournament (Rutgers, Iowa and Cheyney State), has done it with defense for 27 years. This one might be her best, but she won’t say it--not yet.

“Ask me after the season,” she said.

“I will say this team is devastating defensively in the half-court zone--these players can really lock you up.”

For UCLA, the game slipped away during three dry spells. The first was the nine-minute drought in the first half. They fought back, however for the brief second-half lead, prompting Coach Kathy Olivier to salute her team’s character in that 22-7 run.

But the Bruins couldn’t climb back from Rutgers’ 14-3 run after that, and certainly not in the home stretch, when the Scarlet Knights went from 54-46 to the final score.

The blowout was an emotional crusher for the highly recruited UCLA freshman, Nicole Kaczmarski, who, playing before dozens of family members and friends, appeared in the postgame interview room teary-eyed. She was 0 for 4 from the floor and scored no points in 32 minutes.

“Rutgers played well but we stood around too much and made them look better,” Olivier said.

“Their matchup zone was new to us, one that was aggressive on top. Rutgers, when they do give you an open look, you tend to rush your shot. They also got much more aggressive on the boards in the second half.”

Rutgers won the rebounding battle, 41-31.

Maylana Martin had 19 points and eight rebounds for UCLA.