UCLA Women Defeat Washington With Ease

A swarming defense and a career-best 17 points by freshman reserve Lisa Willis led UCLA to a surprisingly easy 72-46 victory over the Washington Huskies before 871 at Pauley Pavilion on Friday.

UCLA won its fourth straight, improving to 3-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference and 8-4 overall.

“Washington is a very good team. I respect everything they do,” Bruin Coach Kathy Olivier said. “But I think our team is on a high right now.”

The loss dropped the Huskies to 9-2, 1-1, and ended Washington’s eight-game winning streak. The Huskies came into the game averaging a conference best 80.2 points a game, but were harassed into 17 turnovers and missed 51 of their 67 shots.

Giuliana Mendiola led Washington with 14 points.

The Huskies came into Friday’s game minus two starters. Forward Kellie Dalan was lost after fracturing an ankle Dec. 20 in a game against San Francisco. Forward Kayla Burt was hospitalized earlier in the week to undergo tests for an undisclosed ailment.

“Yes we miss Kayla and Kellie, but don’t take anything away from UCLA tonight,” Washington Coach June Daugherty said. “We didn’t respond the way we needed to against their defense.”

Mike Terry

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Rometra Craig scored 23 points and Ebony Hoffman had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead USC (6-7, 1-2) to a 92-44 victory over Washington State (0-10, 0-2) at the Sports Arena.... Azella Perryman had 14 points and 14 rebounds and No. 6 Stanford (9-1) won its fourth straight game, 58-38 over No. 19 Oklahoma (9-4) at Palo Alto.... No. 4 Kansas State (12-1) dominated early and never trailed on the way to winning its ninth straight home game, 84-40, over Western Illinois (7-5) at Manhattan, Kan.

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