Win Comes Easily for UCLA, but Loss of Pitts Hard to Take

Normally the UCLA Bruins would have been giddy about the kind of game they played Saturday, overwhelming outmanned and undersized Cal State Northridge, 88-49, to end a three-game losing streak in front of 943 at Pauley Pavilion.

But most of the joy was gone long before the final buzzer.

Before the game, Coach Kathy Olivier’s worst fears about injured forward Julia Pitts were confirmed. The results of an MRI exam revealed that the promising freshman, hurt during Thursday’s game against Baylor, has torn anterior and lateral ligaments in her left knee. She will require surgery; recovery and rehabilitation could take six to nine months.

Pitts, who averaged 10 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds, was making 67.4% of her field-goal attempts, on pace to break the school record held by Denise Curry (62.1%).

She may not be eligible to redshirt this season, having already played eight games.

“She helps us so much with rebounding, running the floor, defensively,” Olivier said. “But what we’ll miss the most is her demeanor. She’s a kid who carries herself like a winner no matter what the situation is. For a freshman that’s remarkable because she’s in an environment that’s pretty competitive.”

Michelle Greco, who led all scorers with 22 points in 19 minutes, can empathize with Pitts. Greco had to miss last season because of concussions.

“I was telling her before the game I admired how she’s stayed upbeat, not dwelling on her injury and forgetting about the team,” Greco said. “She’s very positive and supportive.”

Greco seemed intent on easing the loss of Pitts by herself. The fifth-year senior made seven of nine shots in the first half as the Bruins (5-4) established a 39-31 lead.

In the second half, UCLA unleashed a full-court trapping defense that forced 19 of the Matadors’ 31 turnovers and triggered scoring runs of 18-4 and 18-0. UCLA led by as many as 41 points.

“Whenever you trap and double team like that it either picks your team up and gets them easy buckets or the other team takes advantage,” Northridge Coach Tammy Holder said. “You hope to take advantage the first two or three times they do it, but we didn’t help out or rotate well. It looked like we played right into their game plan.”

Ofa Tulikihihifo scored 17 points for the Matadors (0-8), who have lost 14 in a row dating to last season.

Their last victory was Feb. 18 against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Colorado 93, USC 86 -- The Trojans got 23 points and 12 rebounds from Ebony Hoffman and 19 points from Rometra Craig, but their struggles against a difficult early-season schedule continued with a loss at Boulder, Colo., that dropped their record to 5-5.

Tera Bjorklund scored 28 points for the Buffaloes (8-1).