The UCLA women’s basketball team started the second half of the Pac-10 season off right with a sweep of the Washington schools.
On Friday night, the Bruins (12-11, 6-5 Pac-10) defeated Washington 73-67. While the Bruins held the lead throughout the first half, the Huskies (13-9, 6- 5 Pac-10) came back in the second half and the two teams traded leads.
The outcome was up in the air until the final minute.
After a 3-point basket from senior guard Noelle Quinn, a steal from sophomore guard Tierra Henderson and free throws from junior forward Lindsey Pluimer in the last 35
seconds, UCLA came away with the win. In her sixth double-double of the season, Quinn scored 21 points and had a season-high 12 rebounds.
On Sunday, thanks to the second half efforts of senior guard Shaina Zaidi, UCLA surged back from a halftime deficit to beat Washington State (5-16, 1-10 Pac-10) 73-70.
Down 33-24 at halftime, UCLA was unable to contain the Cougars in the first half. With quick steals and strong defense, Washington State forced UCLA to turn the ball over 12 times. The Bruins were also not able to take advantage of the charity line, making only four of 12 free throws.
But the Bruins more than doubled their points in the second half, scoring 49 points. UCLA also caught the Cougars off-guard several times converting steals into easy layups.
“I got on them (at halftime) because I know that we’re better than what we were showing,” coach Kathy Olivier said. “I want them to take pride in their defensive efforts, and I think that we picked it up in the second half.”
Zaidi’s hot shooting anchored the Bruins’ comeback. Within a two-minute time span, Zaidi hit two 3-pointers to tie the game 47-47, pumping her fists in the air after each basket.
“I knew at that moment that we needed to come back, and I just wanted to do everything that I could,” Zaidi said. “I get so juiced. Energy is contagious, so if I can help spread that and get our team going, it’s that much better.”
In the game, Zaidi had a career-high 14 points, but had her focus elsewhere.
“Points ““ they come and go,” she said. “But because I was able to get my career high when it mattered and when we needed the win, that makes it feel better.”
Zaidi was not the only Bruin to record a career high. Pluimer finished with a career-high 13 rebounds and was the game’s top scorer with 18 points.
Henderson had a career-high seven assists and scored all 10 of her points in the second half.
According to Olivier, Henderson had the best weekend of her career.
“(Henderson’s) defense generated her offense as far as steals and getting some easy layups,” Olivier said. “Tierra (Henderson) made some great decisions as far as her passes go; she got some great assists.”
After the Washington and Washington State games, UCLA has won three consecutive Pac-10 matchups. The Bruins are currently tied for fifth place in the Pac-10 with Washington.
“We’re at a point where every game counts in our way back to the top. This is the way we needed to start,” Zaidi said.