UCLA’s shot clock is running out.
Before the Bruins left for Pullman, Wash., they had just 80 minutes left in the regular season to improve their record and determine their seeding heading into the Pac-12 tournament.
Thursday’s 40 minutes were well spent: UCLA (12-16, 8-9 Pac-12) left Beasley Coliseum with a much needed 74-69 victory over Washington State (15-13, 6-11).
“I saw a ‘find-a-way’ mentality instead of panic, frustration or individualized play,” said coach Cori Close. “For young teams, sometimes it takes a long time to come to that point, but I was really pleased to see that tonight.”
The game was dictated by runs and quick momentum shifts. Washington State went on an 8-0 run at the beginning of the first period and UCLA answered with a 12-0 run as halftime approached – ultimately allowing the Bruins to enter the locker room with 49 points, the second highest halftime score UCLA has had all season.
“We really figured out how to get more stops on defense,” Close said. “They made a run and went up, and it really seemed like they had all the momentum. We found a way to garner it back and really control the game again.”
The Bruins’ strong offensive showing in the first half was largely due to their ability to drain 57.6 percent of shots from the field and sink eight of 11 from the stripe. Freshman guard Jordin Canada had six assists in the first period alone, and despite a cold start, redshirt sophomore guard Kari Korver made three 3-pointers and a pair of free throws to lead the Bruins going into the locker room.
While the Bruins maintained the upper hand in the first 20 minutes and had a three-point lead heading into halftime, the Cougars turned the tides in the second period by tying the game and eventually taking the lead.
But rather than follow its recent trend of losing steam in the second period, UCLA was able to keep the game close and ultimately pull ahead due to defensive pressure that caused lengthy Washington State offensive scoring droughts.
Washington State’s starting guards Lia Galdeira and Tia Presley scored a bulk of the Cougars’ points, 24 and 25 points respectively, while UCLA spread their points across the roster. Korver, Canada and junior guard Nirra Fields drained double-digits in points. Bruin bench production reached 28 points by the final buzzer.
Despite a solid effort pushing in transition, Korver said that the team could have done a better job at preventing the Cougars from taking and making 3-pointers.
“Defensively we still weren’t totally focused on what we were trying to take away,” she said. “Veterans like me and (Fields) gave up 3s.”
UCLA lost the battle of the boards in the first period, only snagging six offensive rebounds out of 23 total. However, in the second period the Bruins were able to reverse their second-chance fortunes and come up with 34 rebounds, 14 of those offensive.
“We needed to get stops on defense and rebounds, and then be able to push on offense before their defense could set up,” said senior forward/center Corinne Costa. “We have to have a great rebounding game (on Saturday).”
Costa, who heads into her final regular season game as a Bruin on Saturday, tied her career high of 13 rebounds.
One game against Washington on Saturday – a mere 40 minutes – determine whether the Bruins break even with a 9-9 record or head back up to Seattle next weekend – this time for the Pac-12 tournament – with a losing conference record and an unfavorable seed.
“(I want them to) leave it all out on the floor with a competitive fire that is palpable,” Close said, expressing her hopes for the team in those last 40 minutes. “I want them to have a togetherness that is infectious. I want them to have the mental focus to execute a game plan that is laser sharp … it will set the table for exactly how we want to play in the postseason.”