The UCLA women’s basketball team proved it could play second-half basketball on Saturday against Arizona. After a dismal start, the Bruins succeeded in making second-half adjustments to put Arizona away, 48-38, in Tucson.
Going into the locker room at halftime, the Bruins talked about the changes they needed to make in order to return to Westwood with a victory. According to UCLA coach Nikki Caldwell, the Bruins focused on pounding the Wildcats on the defensive end and containing Arizona’s sophomore forward Ify Ibekwe.
On the offensive side, UCLA wanted to work on its patience with the ball which would help them find and make smarter shots.
“We kept quick-shooting the basketball (in the first half) but we needed to have more patience and make sure that we make the extra pass,” Caldwell said.
In the first half, the Bruins held a comfortable 21-13 lead over the Wildcats at the 8:14 mark, which slowly disappeared. Arizona held UCLA to one basket in the last eight minutes of the half, which allowed the Wildcats to tie the game at 24 by halftime.
But the Bruins took the second-half adjustments to heart and took control of the game. UCLA went on a 6-0 run to open the half and held onto its lead for the rest of the game. The Bruins held Arizona to just 8.7 percent shooting in the second half, the lowest percentage the Wildcats have shot all season.
Arizona was efficient from the charity stripe, converting 10-of-13 free-throw attempts ““ something Caldwell said the Bruins need to improve upon.
“We are sending teams to the free-throw line entirely too much,” Caldwell said. “We need to be able to adjust.”
In freshman Antonye Nyingifa’s first start as a Bruin, she finished tied for the team high with seven rebounds. Nyingifa, who often comes off of the bench, contributed six points.
“I was smiling the whole time,” Nyingifa said. “I was just happy to be in the starting five.
“Whether I come off the bench or I am starting, I am going to keep my same mentality and still play the same way.”
Sophomore guard Doreena Campbell led all scorers with 17 points and added seven rebounds.
The afternoon game also featured a family reunion between senior center Chinyere Ibekwe and Arizona’s Ify Ibekwe. Ify and Chinyere rank first and third, respectively, in rebounding in the Pac-10. Ify posted 14 points for Arizona, while Chinyere grabbed four rebounds for UCLA.
“They both competed today,” Caldwell said. “I think they both wanted to excel on their side of the ball. They had family there, so it’s always a healthy competition between the two of them.”
After losing at Arizona State and winning at Arizona, the Bruins came away with a 1-1 split in their first road trip of the Pac-10 season. UCLA returns to Pauley Pavilion next weekend to face Washington State and Washington.