UCLA Beats Washington Down Stretch

Even when UCLA had a full roster, including its best player this season, Noelle Quinn, there were victories that felt more like survival than satisfaction.

Thursday’s Pacific 10 Conference contest against Washington turned out that way for the Bruins. After a slow first half, both teams fought to a near standstill before UCLA pulled out an 86-81 victory before 737 at Pauley Pavilion.

Nikki Blue scored 18 of her game-high 23 points in the second half for UCLA (14-7 overall, 8-4 in the Pac 10). Lindsey Pluimer added 21 and Lisa Willis and Amanda Livingston each scored 17.

Still, the Bruins had to withstand a young, motivated team that went beyond pesky. The Huskies outrebounded the Bruins (40-34), shot 51.6% against UCLA in the second half and didn’t surrender their last lead until there were just over two minutes left to play.

There was no clue the game would be a shootout after UCLA managed a 31-29 lead at halftime. But UCLA scored 55 points in the second half, Washington 52.

“Both teams got in a rhythm in the second half,” said UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier. “They were definitely in rhythm but we were matching it, which was nice.

“Defensively we stepped it up [in the final minutes]. The last few possessions we really got after it.”

Blue doesn’t want the Bruins to wait that long.

“We don’t like letting the game get that close, because it’s going to get harder and harder to survive games like this,” she said.

Kayla Burt had 20 points and eight rebounds, personal bests, off the bench for Washington (9-13, 5-7). The Huskies has three others in double figures: Cheri Craddock had 11 and Jill Bell and Breanne Watson each had 10.

Washington, which didn’t shoot free throws in the first half, went to the line 24 times in the second half. But the Huskies made only 13 shots.

“That’s not like us,” Burt said. “That, and a couple of poor turnovers at the end, probably cost us the game. Down the stretch we needed to get good looks and we turned the ball over. I, myself, made one of them. It’s stings to lose to a good team like UCLA on the road, but we have to keep our heads up and try to get the next one.”

Mike Terry

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USC 69, Washington State 62 -- Camille LeNoir scored eight points during an 11-3 run over the last 2:55 that sealed USC’s home victory.

Brynn Cameron scored 19 points, and LeNoir and Kim Gipson finished with 12 points apiece for the Trojans (15-6, 9-3 Pac-10).

Charmaine Jones scored 26 points for Washington State (5-16, 1-11), which rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to lead, 59-58.