Oregon had plans of exorcising any demons they had from playing in Pauley Pavilion.
The Ducks women’s basketball team tried holding off a second half flurry from UCLA, and mounting fatigue, in a 63-59 loss Thursday night against the Bruins.
But foul trouble and a faltering offense left the Ducks looking to rebound Saturday against USC at the Galen Center.
Coach Bev Smith emerged from a somber locker room afterwards.
“They’re disappointed,” she said in a radio broadcast. “It hurts because they played their hearts out. They felt like they should have won this game.”
Guard Taylor Lilley brought Oregon within three, 62-59, with 12 seconds left on a long three-pointer, but UCLA forward Lindsey Pluimer hit one of two free throws to clinch the Bruins win.
Oregon senior guard Kaela Chapdelaine enjoyed one of her best games this season in her final performance at Pauley Pavilion. She made 5 of 7 three-pointers – hitting 5 of 10 shots overall – in a 16 point, 10 rebound performance.
The Ducks fall to 10-9 overall and 4-4 in the Pacific-10 Conference. UCLA improved its record to 10-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
Pluimer had a game-high 19 points for UCLA, including 9 of 10 shooting from the free throw line.
Oregon parlayed a strong first half into a 30-24 halftime edge. The Ducks extended the lead to 12, 45-33, on a Nicole Canepa layup, and upped it to 14, 49-35, on a Lilley three-pointer with 10:14 remaining.
But worn down, and with few subs, Oregon was hurt by a 14-0 UCLA run over a four minute span that gave the Bruins a 57-54 lead they never relinquished.
Oregon was without point guard Tamika Nurse for much of the night. She played a minute before suffering a left shoulder sprain and sitting out the rest of the game. Smith said her status for Saturday is questionable.
Already, guard Nia Jackson was out of the lineup with a quad strain.
Guard Micaela Cocks helped shoulder the extra playing time and in 36 minutes the sophomore had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds, albeit with six turnovers.
Center Ellyce Ironmonger, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in her right knee last Saturday, was set to go but the physical defense of UCLA kept her in check and she fouled out after 15 minutes with a point.
Tatianna Thomas, pushed into extra playing time with the short bench, played 16 minutes and had two points and four rebounds.
“Our players are very disappointed and it hurts,” Smith said. “You can’t fault their effort today. We just really struggled the last 10 minutes with their pressure.”
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