UCLA
Cal State Northridge
UCLA Bests Cal State Northridge, 96-53
November 30, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2008
Los Angeles, Calif. - UCLA, now 4-1 on the season, cruised to a 43-point victory, its largest in six years, with a 96-53 win over Cal State Northridge.
Bruin junior guard Erica Tukiainen scored seven of the team's first nine points as the Bruins jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. Cal State Northridge closed to within three, 20-17, at the 10:37 mark. Matador freshman center Jasmine Erving scored 12 of her points during that stretch. The Bruins answered with a 17-2 run to open up a 37-19 lead with 5:08 on the game clock. A basket just before the halftime horn sounded gave UCLA a 50-26 lead at the break.
UCLA, which had a season-high 22 steals, forced a season-high 32 turnovers and converted those turnovers into 39 points. The Bruins also won the battle of the boards for the fifth consecutive game, 54-36.
Tukiainen (16 points) and Christina Nzekwe (11 points) each finished with career-highs in points. They were joined in double-figure scoring by Chinyere Ibekwe (13 points) and Nina Earl (14 points). Ibekwe and Moniquee Alexander tied for team-high honors with eight rebounds. Darxia Morris recorded a season-best eight points and tied her career-high with six rebounds. All 12 Bruins scored in the game.
Erving had career-highs with 21 points and 13 rebounds for Northridge, which fell to 0-7 on the year.
UCLA's 43-point victory was the program's largest since a 106-43 win over Sacramento State on Nov. 24, 2002, and the Bruins are off to their best start since opening 6-1 in 2004-05.
UCLA will play next on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion when they host CSU Bakersfield.
