UCLA
Michigan (Semifinal)
Bruins Reach WNIT Title Game with 69-65 Win at Michigan
April 02, 2015 | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – UCLA advanced to the finals of the WNIT with a 69-65 win at Michigan on Wednesday evening in Crisler Center. The Bruins improved to 18-18 on the year while Michigan ends its season at 20-15.
UCLA will now face West Virginia (23-14) in the championship game on Saturday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m. (PT)/3:00 p.m. (ET) at the Charleston Civic Center (capacity: 13,500) in Charleston, W.Va.
The Bruins led 12-8 after a field goal by Nirra Fields (12:21) but the Wolverines went on a 15-3 run to build their largest lead of the game (eight points), 23-15, with 6:41 to go in the first half. Paulina Hersler's three-pointer (5:11) capped a 7-0 run by UCLA to pull to within one at 23-22. Jordin Canada hit a jumper with two seconds left to send the Bruins into the locker room with a 32-31 lead.
The game was a tight affair with 12 ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team led by more than three points for the first 15 minutes of the second half. But Kari Korver's fifth three-pointer of the game gave UCLA its largest lead of the contest at 63-58 with 4:26 remaining. It also gave her 73 on the year, a UCLA single season record.
Michigan battled back to tie the game at 63-63 with 1:39 remaining. Fields drained a huge mid-range jumper with 1:09 to go to give the Bruins a two-point lead. UCLA's defense then went to work and got a stop and rebound with :41 left. Michigan only had four fouls and the Bruins were able to run off 20 seconds until they got to the bonus. Lajahna Drummer missed the front end of a one-and-one with :21 to go, but Fields leaped for the offensive rebound and found Korver who was fouled. Korver calmly sank both free throws to give UCLA a 67-63 lead. But the Bruins fouled Shannon Smith on a three-point shot with 0:05 left. Smith made two-of-three to cut the lead to 67-65. UCLA was able to get the ball to Canada with 0:03 to go. Canada was fouled and calmly made both to ice the game for the 69-64 win.
UCLA finished shooting 51.9% (28-for-54) from the field which was the second straight game shooting over 50%n. UM finished shooting 38.5% (25-for-65) as both teams grabbed 36 rebounds. UCLA committed 14 turnovers, compared to just eight by the Wolverines. The Bruins' big advantage was in blocked shots, 9-1, with Corinne Costa tying a season-high with five. She now has 55 on the year, which is a UCLA single season record.
Korver ended the game with 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from downtown. Canada had her best all-around game of the year with 14 points, nine assists (just two turnovers), a team-high six rebounds and two steals. Fields was the only other Bruin in double figures with 13 points.
The Wolverines were led by Smith's 20 points. Nicole Elmblad had 16 points while Katelynn Flaherty added 14 points. Cyesha Goree had a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards for Michigan.
