UCLA drops Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

The UCLA women’s basketball team is off to its best start in years. Judgment day is right around the corner, however.

The Bruins ran away from visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in a nonconference game Tuesday night, producing their biggest offensive output in eight years in a 107-83 victory.

They also ran their record to 3-0 for the first time since 1993-94, the rookie season for Coach Kathy Olivier.

What awaits is Sunday’s game against visiting Maryland, ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll, and the possibility of starting 4-0 for the first time in 21 years.

“They’re explosive, they’re athletic and they’re quick,” Olivier said of Maryland. “I think it will be a great test.”

UCLA continued to display a young and balanced attack. Five players scored in double figures, including freshmen Darxia Morris (21 points), Nina Earl (17), Doreena Campbell (12) and Regina Rogers (10). Lindsey Pluimer, the team’s only senior, contributed a season-high 18 points and eight rebounds.

“As much as Maryland has done a great job and they’re a top three or four team in the country, our freshmen will love the competition,” Olivier said.

The game was tight until Pluimer capped a 19-7 run late in the first half, making one of UCLA’s four three-point baskets to give the Bruins a 40-27 lead.

With 6-foot-4 junior center Chinyere Ibekwe returning from a two-game suspension for violating team rules and 6-3 freshman forward Candice Brown getting playing time for the first time this season after sitting out because of an assortment of injuries, the 6-4 Pluimer was able to play more on the perimeter.

Pluimer took advantage by making seven of 13 shots, including two of three from three-point range.

“It definitely opened things up a lot for me,” Pluimer said of Ibekwe’s and Brown’s return. “We’re definitely bigger now.”