W. hoops steals victory
Team upsets Beavers as seniors prepare to bid court farewell
By Emmanuelle Ejercito
Daily Bruin Staff
The UCLA women’s basketball team pulled off its biggest upset of
the season, beating No. 14 Oregon State 68-56.
Last time they played, the Bruins were out-rebounded by the
Beavers by a 2-to-1 margin, but on Thursday night, UCLA came out
physical and out-rebounded OSU 37-31.
The leading rebounder for the Bruins was Kisa Hughes, who had an
outstanding night both offensively and defensively.
Hughes usually averages 7.7 rebounds per game, but against the
Beavers she grabbed 14. Hughes also added 18 points and two
steals.
"I thought that Kisa rebounded like the old Kisa Hughes," UCLA
head coach Kathy Olivier said. "She went after the ball, she wasn’t
hesitant. She played physical, but a smart physical."
UCLA controlled the game in the first half. To open up the game
the Bruins went on a 7-0 run. UCLA maintained its lead throughout
the first half by keeping OSU off the offensive boards, allowing
only one.
By halftime the Bruins took a five-point lead.
But there is a reason why OSU is nationally ranked.
Helped by its revived rebounding and six quick fouls called on
UCLA, the Beavers climbed back into the game and took a five-point
lead with a 15-2 run eight minutes into the second half.
OSU led by as many as six points, but UCLA came back to tie it
at 47 with a Hughes inside bank shot.
From there, the two teams traded baskets. With 7:08 remaining in
the game Erica Gomez tied the score at 53 with two free throws.
Then for three minutes neither team scored.
Hilbert broke the scoreless streak with a shot from the right
wing to give the Bruins a two-point lead.
UCLA increased its lead when Gomez put up a three-pointer that
bounced on the rim and fell in.
After OSU failed to convert on the offensive end, Gomez again
sank a three-pointer and was fouled in the process by Boky
Vidic.
Gomez completed the four-point play and gave three Bruins a
nine- point lead with 2:42 left.
"I think that it is a very good win for us," Olivier said. "For
us to come out and get some wins down the stretch towards the end –
we seemed very focused and when we’re focused and intense like that
we can play with anyone."
* * *
Saturday, March 2, 1996 will mark the farewell song for four
UCLA seniors.
It will be the last time that Allison Arredondo, Hughes, Zrinka
Kristich and Ricarda Kuypers set foot on the wood at Pauley
Pavilion as a Bruin basketball player.
The four seniors have a combined total of over 5,000 minutes
played for UCLA. They have seen the ups and downs through their
four years. But what will be their fondest memory?
Said the seniors without hesitation,"Beating ‘SC."
After losing to Southern Cal seven straight times in their
careers, the seniors finally defeated their rivals last Saturday
80-64.
As they face their last regular season home game, the seniors
feel sad yet relieved at the same time.
"There’s two sides," Kuypers said. "There is the side that after
being here for awhile; it’s like it’s time to move on to something
else. The other side of it is you’re sad."
Adds Kristich: "You’re not sitting here saying you want it to
end, but it is time to end. That’s really the bottom line."
But before it ends on Saturday afternoon, the Bruins will tip
off against the University of Oregon (16-9, 8-7 at press time).
"I think that it is important to win," Kuypers said. "First of
all, it’s always nice to go out on a positive note. Secondly,
Oregon is our last game and we got beat so bad up there, it’s
another payback."
At Eugene earlier this season, the Bruins handed the game to the
Ducks by shooting a season low 30.8 percent and giving up 26
turnovers. Oregon won 75-48.
But this time UCLA does not plan to go down easily.
"Definitely all of us are going to give it everything we’ve
got," said Arredondo, who does not plan to pursue basketball after
she graduates. "I think that when I get out there I’m going to be
all over the court even more so than I would in a regular game
because I know that this is the last time my parents and friends
will see me play ever."
SUSIE CHU/Daily Bruin
Kisa Hughes got 14 rebounds against the Beavers.
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