There are tough losses, and then there is this: a missed layup, a pair of close calls, and a potential game-winner wiped off the scoreboard.
Needless to say, Lady Luck smiled not on the UCLA women’s basketball team on Thursday night. Instead, it was the home team, the Kansas Jayhawks, that benefited from a series of unfortunate events to cash in on a close, physical 54-49 win over the Bruins.
Famed Allen Fieldhouse provided the setting for the Bruins’ second consecutive road test against a ranked opponent, as coach Nikki Caldwell and UCLA looked to rebound after losing a lead and a chance at victory at Tennessee. With UCLA down two in the closing minutes, freshman forward Markel Walker intercepted an errant pass and drove to the other end for a game-tying layup, but her attempt lipped out to keep Kansas in the lead. Still down two, the Bruins ran a set that freed Darxia Morris behind the line, and her shot went down to give UCLA a one-point lead with less than 30 seconds to go.
Or so it seemed. The officials waved the basket off after whistling junior forward Christina Nzekwe for an illegal screen. Following that tough break, UCLA was called for an intentional foul while trying to stop the clock, giving Kansas two more points and the ball to essentially seal the game. It was a tough ending to swallow for a team that has played tough against two consecutive ranked opponents away from home.
“Obviously I’m not very happy that a play came down to missing a close call,” Caldwell said of the game’s closing sequence. “But you have to make sure that your team does everything to put itself in a position to win the game themselves, and not have it put up to the referee’s call. We had a great look, and did what we needed to do, but we got a different call going against us.”
This game followed a similar pattern to the Tennessee game, as UCLA held the lead for the entire first half, and indeed much of the game. In a low-scoring game, UCLA’s defense forced the home team into turnovers and poor offense while the Bruin offense converted just enough on the opposite end of the floor to grant UCLA a 21-19 halftime lead. However, like the game in Knoxville, Caldwell’s team couldn’t hold the lead until the final buzzer.
“You learn to adjust,” Caldwell said. “We will take the positives and continue to get better. If we can do that, we’re going to be fine.”
One especially frustrating aspect of the game began to take its toll on UCLA’s scoring chances, however. Leading scorer Walker picked up two early fouls, and was constantly in foul trouble throughout the evening. After scoring in double-digits in every game of the season, Walker was held to eight points. The night was a sign that there is still plenty of room for growth for the young standout as the year progresses.
“Markel is a very smart player,” Caldwell said. “She was trying to make those type of adjustments, because she was in foul trouble. She does so much for this team, but she’ll learn from it. We have to do a better job of keeping our kids out of foul trouble.”
Walker wasn’t the only player to struggle on the night. Normally reliable scoring threat Erica Tukiainen, who is lethal from long range, missed her only long-range attempt and was held to just five points. Junior guard Morris also struggled with foul trouble, playing only 20 minutes.
There were a few positives to take away from the tough contest. After being dominated on the offensive glass against Tennessee, the Bruins showed improvement, out-rebounding the Jayhawks by a 43-29 tally.
“I think you can take away a lot from this game. We have to be a team that can make those plays down the stretch as well,” Caldwell said. “We are learning from adversity. We battled on the offensive boards, and I’m pleased with that.”
The Bruins will not get a chance to relax after two trying outcomes. UCLA will travel to UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday to face a traditionally strong Gaucho team.