UCLA
Washington State
UCLA Women Defeat Washington State, 77-50
February 09, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2006
Los Angeles, Calif. - The UCLA women's basketball team won for the fourth time in its last five games, using a stellar defensive outing to defeat Washington State, 77-50. The Bruins allowed a season-low point total and held the Cougars to just 32.3% shooting from the field. Senior guard Lisa Willis led four Bruin players in double figures with 17 points and also led the team with nine rebounds.
UCLA jumped out to a quick lead on a three-pointer by Lindsey Pluimer on the first possession of the game. After a Katie Appleton layup, Washington State went cold, missing six consecutive shots, while the Bruins stormed out to a 19-2 lead after a 16-0 run. The Cougars recovered, though, and closed to within six, 25-19, with 5:16 remaining in the half. UCLA closed the half with a 9-4 run, with Nikki Blue scoring the final seven points, to enter the locker room with a 34-23 advantage.
In the second half, it was all UCLA. Noelle Quinn scored seven points in an 11-5 run to start the second period, and the Cougars never got closer than 12. A three-pointer by Willis with 5:35 to play started a game-closing 18-3 run by the Bruins. Washington State was held without a field goal for the final 6:22.
Joining Willis in double-figuring scoring were Blue and Quinn with 15 points apiece and Pluimer, who had 11. Blue was one assist shy of a double-double, but she moved into third place on UCLA's all-time assist list with 536.
UCLA outshot Washington State, 49.2-32.3% and outrebounded the Cougars, 41-38. The Bruins forced 21 turnovers and had five blocked shots.
Washington State was led by Keisha Moore, who had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Crystal Blue added 12 points, and Appleton had 10.
UCLA's record improves to 14-9, 9-5 in the Pac-10. Washington State drops to 7-15, 1-12.
The Bruins will next host Washington (16-6, 9-4) on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 pm in a game televised nationally by Fox Sports Net. The Huskies defeated USC in double overtime tonight, 87-79.
