As much as Noelle Quinn wanted to will the Bruins to victory, she could not get them past Arizona State in the second round of the Pac-10 Tournament on Saturday, ending UCLA’s season and Quinn’s collegiate career.
After a 14-point victory over the No. 10 seed Washington State on Friday, the No. 7 seed Bruins fell short in their efforts to repeat as conference tournament champions.
The Bruins (14-18, 8-11 Pac-10) battled the No. 9 Sun Devils (28-3, 16-2 Pac-10) shot-for-shot for much of the game but could not contain ASU’s high-powered offense, losing 74-64 in San Jose.
UCLA started the game slow, shooting 6-for-16 and losing the rebounding margin 15-6 over the opening 15 minutes, despite holding a height advantage inside over the Sun Devils’ starters.
In the first six minutes, the Bruins had more turnovers (3) than baskets made (2) and struggled to slow down ASU ““ five of the first seven Sun Devil baskets were layups.
After falling behind by as many as nine points only eight minutes into the game, the Bruins battled back.
They went on a 19-9 run that lasted over 11 minutes and took a one-point 27-26 lead on a pair of Chinyere Ibekwe free throws with under a minute left in the half.
However, it would prove to be the Bruins’ first and last lead of the night.
ASU capitalized on a Moniquee Alexander foul and led 30-27 at the break.
In the second half, the Bruins and Sun Devils were neck and neck for the first few minutes.
After scoring six consecutive points, Quinn had cut the deficit to only five with 15 minutes remaining, but could not bring them all the way back.
ASU went on a crucial 14-8 run over the next six minutes to take an 11-point lead, one which they would not forfeit. The Bruins narrowed the margin to only four points on a Julia Pitts layup with less than four minutes remaining, but the Sun Devils quickly pushed the lead back to nine, essentially sealing the game.
Quinn had carried the Bruins all year and ended the game with 25 points on 9-26 shooting.
“Noelle had to do everything, but to be honest she’s been doing everything for 30 games,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said in a press conference. “In the first three minutes, I was thinking, “˜Oh, gosh, it’s going to be a long day.’ But we kept our heads up.”
In her last game as a Bruin, Noelle Quinn refused to leave anything on the court.
“We’ve had a great time with these seniors,” Quinn said in a press conference. “I just really love being a Bruin. I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else. The Pac-10 does a great job and I wouldn’t want to play with another group of girls.
“All in all my career’s been great, I appreciate every moment and will use my experience here and carry it on to the next level.”
NOTES: Against Washington State on Friday, Quinn became the fifth player in UCLA history to score 1,800 points in her career.
She fell six rebounds short of becoming the second player in Pac-10 history to record 1,800 points, 800 rebounds and 400 assists in her career.