UCLA women fall to LSU, 58-41

Markel Walker’s return to action was not enough as the Bruins fell to Louisiana State and former UCLA coach Nikki Caldwell, 58-41, at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday evening.

LaSondra Barrett scored 18 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Tigers. Adrienne Webb added 13 for LSU.

Poor second-half shooting and a season-high-tying 24 turnovers contributed to the Bruins’ loss.

Walker was the Bruins’ leading scorer on the night with 11 points in her season debut. She sat out the first seven games recovering from thumb surgery.

“With the addition of Markel Walker back on the team, I thought she had a good night against us if you take away her turnovers,” said Caldwell, who spent three seasons as the Bruins head coach. “UCLA is always going to be dear to me. The administration there gave me my first head coaching job, and there are some great people at UCLA. It’s helped mold me into the coach that I am today. We want nothing but the best for not only their current players, but their former players as well.”

Caldwell is in her first season at LSU after coaching the Bruins from 2008-11.

LSU (5-3) kept UCLA’s leading scorers, Atonye Nyingifa and Rebekah Gardner, both of whom average more than 16 points a game, in check, holding Nyingifa to six points and Gardner eight.

UCLA Coach Cori Close, who replaced Caldwell said, “The advantage was on LSU’s side because their emotions were on their staff while ours were with our players. They really care about their coaches and their games. Our players at UCLA have had two great staffs that have loved them and I am excited they get that.”

The Tigers led from start to finish, aided by 10 Bruins turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the contest. The Bruins kept it close in the first half and had the lead down to three, 23-20, with 1:38 to play after Walker made a free throw off an LSU flagrant foul. But the Tigers reeled off seven straight points to close the half and went into the locker room with a 30-20 advantage.

UCLA (5-3) could not get its shots down in the second half, shooting just 25% from the field in the period and a season-low 31.5% overall. UCLA forced an opponent season-high 29 turnovers.

The Bruins will next face Tennessee at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wooden Center.