LOS ANGELES â?” What started as a closely fought game exploded into a 21-point route for UCLA Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins strung together a slew of scoring runs in the second half to preserve an 82-63 win over Oregon in the opening game of Pac-10 play.
Oregon but was hampered with scoreless droughts that began appearing during the first minute of play. UCLA jumped to a 5-0 lead to start the game and held a consistent 10-point lead in the first half until Kaela Chapdelaine and Chelsea Wagner of Oregon each sunk a three point shot to close the score to 37-31 at the half.
The Ducks knotted the score at 43 just four minutes into the second half. They capped off an 11-3 run highlighted by Wagner, whose pair of three-pointers gave Oregon its first lead of the game, 44-43. The three point shot proved to be Oregon’s only answer to UCLA’s pressing defense.
Coach Bev Smith of the Ducks was pleased with her team’s accuracy from beyond the arc, but after the game she said she would like to see the team rely more on its inside game.
”They were nice to make, but there were too many threes to be honest,” Smith said. “UCLA is a very athletic team and spreading the ball around and forcing a three-point shot from inside is the right way to play for us against athletic teams.”
The lead change would be the turning point in the game. Coach Kathy Olivier of UCLA switched to a full court press shortly afterward, stopping the Ducks’ offense.
”I saw we were ready to go and that was it,” Olivier said. “I like using the full court press; it allows us to use different people and bring in fresh legs and it caught them off balance. Chinyere (Ibekwe) is very fast and did well in it.”
Smith’s younger players surrendered three turnovers in as many minutes, handing the lead back to the Bruins. Lindsey Pluimer, Nikki Blue and the powder blue-heavy crowd of 792 helped UCLA slowly pull away. Blue led the Bruins with six rebounds and nine assists and forced five turnovers. Her presence on defense was key in forcing the Ducks to take bad shots in the paint. She and her teammates increased the tempo of the game as the second half progressed.
”They stepped it up, and we didn’t respond well,” Smith said. “We need to make close shots and lay-ups. Those could’ve kept it closer and maybe put us over the top.”
Cicely Oaks started for the Ducks for the first time in her collegiate career. The Portland native ended with 10 points.
“Cicely has had some good games lately,” Smith said. “We liked how she matched up and she played well.”
Carolyn Ganes came off the bench to lead the Ducks in scoring with 15 points. She was surprised by the amount of shot opportunities the Bruins gave her.
”I got a lot of good looks and did as my teammates tell me to do when I have an open shot â?” I take it,” Ganes said.
By the time the Bruins reached the 70-point mark, the game was well in hand. UCLA (6-4 overall, 1-0 Pac-10) cruised to scoring its season average of 82 points and now looks ahead to playing Oregon State on Thursday night at home. Oregon (8-2, 0-1) wraps up its week of action with USC in Los Angeles that same day.
