UCLA
Hawai'i
UCLA Routs Hawai'i, 98-52
November 19, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2009
Los Angeles, Calif. - UCLA upped its record to 2-1 on the year with a 98-52 defeat of the University of Hawaii (1-1) on Thursday night in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins tied a school record with 12 three-pointers in the contest, led by senior guard Erica Tukiainen's career-high six. Tukiainen scored 16 of her game-high total of 24 points in the first half of play to pace the Bruin attack. Bruin freshman forward Markel Walker came two steals shy of a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight steals, along with four assists.
UCLA connected on eight of its first 12 shots in the game, including four three-point shots by Tukiainen and jumped out to a 22-11 lead with 13:11 on the clock. The Bruins built the lead up to 28-11 at the 10:28 mark on a Walker basket and free throw, before Hawaii answered with an 8-0 run to close to 28-19 with 8:04 left in the first half.A three-point basket by sophomore guard Rebekah Gardner snapped the UH streak and triggered an 11-2 Bruin run which propelled the Bruins into an 18-point lead at 39-21 with 2:19 to play. UCLA went on to lead by as many as 23 before settling for a 49-28 advantage at the break.
The Bruins continued the hot hand in the second half of play and finished with a 52.5 shooting percentage on the night, including 12-19 (63.9%) from the three-point line.Three other Bruins joined Tukiainen, who was one-point shy of matching her career-high, and Walker in double-figures - Darxia Morris with 18, Gardner who totaled a career-best 15, and Christina Nzekwe, who added 11. UCLA won the battle of the boards, 42-25, and forced 24 Hawaii turnovers. The 98-point output was the largest by a Bruin team since it scored 104 in a win last season against CSU Bakersfield (12/3/08).
UCLA will play next on Saturday night against the University of Utah (1-1) in the second game of a women's basketball doubleheader to be played at the Viejas Arena in San Diego. The game is slated to tip-off no earlier than 8:30 p.m. and will be televised by themtn. network. Arizona and San Diego State will play the first game which tips off at 6:30 p.m. The next home game for UCLA will be on Nov. 25 against Princeton at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA 98 - Erica Tukiainen 24, Darxia Morris 18, Rebekah Gardner 15, Markel Walker 12, Christina Nzekwe 11, Doreena Campbell 7, Nina Earl 4, Mariah Williams 4, Jackie Shepard 2, Moniquee Alexander 1.
Hawai'i 52 - Shawn Kuehu 15, Keisha Kanekoa 8, Leilani Galdones 6, Rebecca Dew 6, Mai Ayabe 5, Dita Liepkalne 4, Breanna Arbuckle 3, Allie Patterson 2, Katie Wilson 2, Jennifer Hamilton 1, Courtney Gaddis 0, Briauna Linton 0.
