For a brief moment Sunday afternoon, it looked to the rowdy fans at Pauley Pavilion as if UCLA would stun a top-10 team for the second time in just three days.
This time, however, the UCLA women’s basketball team was held at bay as No. 10 California escaped Westwood with a 73-70 overtime victory.
After falling behind early, the Bruins stormed back, once more spurred by terrific play from do-everything guard Darxia Morris, staying close enough to trail by only seven at the half.
“I thought we came out a little slow. I kind of thought that would happen,” coach Kathy Olivier said. “We snapped out of it pretty quick.”
After trailing 12-4 to open the game, UCLA (7-8, 2-2 Pac-10) would pull back to within one, 14-13, before entering the half with a deficit. Senior forward Lindsey Pluimer, along with a quartet of other post players, succeeded in holding reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year Devanei Hampton to just five points in the opening 20 minutes. However, Hampton would finish with a strong second half and overtime period, netting 16 points for the Golden Bears (13-2, 4-0 Pac-10).
“We were really pumped coming into this game,” Pluimer said. “It’s tough when you lose in overtime. It’s tough when you lose at all.”
As has become characteristic of this young team, the Bruins responded to early adversity by storming ahead to take a five-point lead midway though the second half.
Then came trouble for UCLA. In a collision with Cal guard Natasha Vital, Morris fell to the floor in pain, clutching her right knee. She was helped off the court by team trainers. Morris is to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. Her loss hurt the Bruins, as Cal tied the game at 65 with 1:45 remaining in regulation.
“I didn’t see what happened. I hope she is OK,” Vital said following the game.
Olivier said that Morris has had ACL surgery on the knee before.
In overtime, Pluimer hit a 3-point shot with just under four minutes remaining, giving UCLA a two-point lead and riling up the home crowd of 1,173. After guard Nina Earl’s layup made it 70-68 with 2:44 remaining, the Golden Bears scored the final five points to win.
Olivier was noticeably unsatisfied with the officiating throughout the contest. Cal shot 22 free throws compared to UCLA’s 10. The discrepancy caught the eye of the team, but UCLA refrained from complaints.
“We took it hard to the hoop and didn’t get some calls,” said Olivier.
The loss was tough on a team looking to make a statement with a home sweep, but the Bruins were pleased with their improvement.
“I think we’re playing great right now,” said guard Doreena Campbell, who pitched in 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
“Cal is a very explosive, very good basketball team,” Olivier said. “Defensively, our team is getting better and better.”
Cal coach Joanne Boyle praised the Bruins’ toughness and team effort.
“They’re going to be a great team. They are a great team,” Boyle said. “I wouldn’t want to face them in the tournament.”
Next week, UCLA hits the road to face the Washington schools, looking to improve on its 2-2 Pac-10 record.