UCLA
Fresno State
No. 3 UCLA Defeats No. 12 Fresno State, 16-10
February 01, 2020 | Women's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELESย --ย No. 3 UCLA (10-1, 1-0 MPSF) won every quarter en route to a 16-10 win on Saturday afternoon at the UCLA Mini Tournament over No. 12 Fresno State (2-5)ย at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 3-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.
The Bruins were led byย sophomore Bella Baia, who scored a season-high and career-high-tying three goals. Junior Jahmea Bent got the start in goal and played the first three quarters, tallying eight saves while allowing seven scores. Freshman Quinn Winter played the final quarter of the game and registered four saves while surrendering three scores.
UCLA doubled up the Bulldogs in the first period, winning the quarter 4-2. Junior Lexi Liebowitz got things started with a strike from the front court (6:06). After Emily Nicholson scored a power play goal (5:31) to tie it at 1-1, UCLA reeled off three straight goals. Baia scored her first goal of the game on a counter attack (3:34) and then freshman Abbi Hill scored on a powerful catch and finish at two meters (2:43). Junior Roxy Wheaton put the Bruins up 4-1 with a goal from the front court (2:07). Nicholson struck again for the Bulldogs, this time from set (0:46), to end the scoring in the first with the Bruins leading 4-2.
The Bruins won the second period 4-3. Baia's second goal of the game opened the scoring in the period (7:33) when she converted a penalty shot that was drawn by senior Emily Skelly. After back-to-back penalty goals by Fresno State that cut the Bruins' lead to 5-4, UCLA ran off three more goals to double up the Bulldogs again at 8-4. Wheaton scored her second of the game on a counter (2:32) and Baia completed her hat trick on a counter (1:54), before junior Myna Simmons found the back of the net from the front court (1:14). Nicholson completed her hat trick with a power play goal from Fresno State (0:29) to end the scoring in the second with UCLA taking an 8-5 lead into the break.
Another close quarter followed with the Bruins winning the third period, 3-2. Freshman Hannah Palmer scored from the front court (6:35), Skelly converted a penalty shot drawn by sophomore Ava Johnson (2:14), and sophomore Katrina Drake scored from two meters (1:13) to end the scoring in the period with UCLA holding an 11-7 lead after three.
The Bruins' offense got hot in the fourth quarter, putting a five-spot on the scoreboard, with five different players scoring a goal. Sophomore Val Ayala kicked off the scoring with a power play goal (7:29), followed by a goal from two meters by Johnson (6:48). Palmer's second goal of the game (5:09) came from the front court, doubling up the Bulldogs, 14-7. Skelly scored her second of the contest on a 6-on-5 opportunity (4:20) and Drake followed with her second on a power play (3:42) to push the lead to 16-8. The Bulldogs scored the last two goals of the game (0:46 and 0:10) to provide the 16-10 final.
UCLAย returns to action next week at the Triton Invitaitonal at UC San Diego where it will face Pomona-Pitzer at 8:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Canyonview Pool.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 12 Fresno State (Game 11 - UCLA Mini Tournament)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 12 Fresno State | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 3/5 - FS - 2/6
Penalties -ย UCLA - 2/2 - FS - 3/3
FS Goals:ย Emily Nicholson 4, Cynthia Rosa 2, Emily Diacono 1,ย Kaitlin Howarthย 1,ย Yesenia Preciadoย 1, Daphne Guevremont 1
FS Saves:ย Madelynn Garciaย 2,ย Kate Watley 1
UCLA Goals:ย Bella Baia 3, Hannah Palmer 2, Katrina Drake 2, Roxy Wheaton 2, Emily Skelly 2, Abbi Hill 1, Val Ayala 1, Ava Johnson 1, Myna Simmons 1, Lexi Liebowitzย 1
UCLA Saves:ย Jahmea Bent 8, Quinn Winter 4
