UCLA Pounded by Colorado

Pacific 10 Conference women’s basketball play is fast approaching and UCLA does not look ready.

The holes in the Bruins’ game, especially on offense, are still numerous as No.15-ranked Colorado amply revealed a 79-48 victory over UCLA in front of 1,015 on Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion.

It was the third consecutive loss for UCLA (3-4), which has a nonconference game Saturday at Baylor before opening conference play against Oregon and Oregon State. It was the third consecutive loss by 25 points or more.

It was also the third game in a row that UCLA shot below 30%, making only 18 of 72 (25%) shots, including 0-for-13 three-point shooting.

Colorado (8-2) only had a 48-44 rebounding advantage, but shot 43.1% (25 of 58). The Buffaloes were paced by its staunch guard duo of Jenny Roulier and Mandy Nightingale. Roulier made five of seven three-point shots and scored 21 points. Nightingale had 16.

Shalada Allen and Jalina Bradley each had 11 points for UCLA.

“I feel confident we will be ready [for Pac-10] but we’re not 100% ready right now,” UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier said. “This team has already been through a lot. Once we get continuity, we’ll be fine.”

Ten minutes into the first half, the Buffaloes had rumbled out to a 25-4 lead thanks in part to Roulier’s early hot hand (10 points). Colorado’s lead reached 38-14 before the Bruins made a radical adjustment.

UCLA’s leading scorer, Michelle Greco, sat out her second consecutive game because of an undisclosed illness.