Author Archives: Reed Macdonald

UCLA’s women’s basketball falls to Texas in Sweet 16

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT — Nirra Fields stole the ball and looked up. For most of her career this was where the senior guard liked to be: on the fast break on her way to a layup. In No. 3 seed UCLA’s 72-64 season ending loss to No. 2 seed Texas, it wasn’t where she wanted to […]

Women’s basketball aims for consistency heading into Sweet 16

The Bruins’ Thursday practice looked much the same as their other ones. It was at the same time, they ran the same drills and they ended with the same ritual. Though this practice was the last before the women’s basketball team leaves to Connecticut for the Sweet Sixteen – the furthest stage of the tournament […]

UCLA women’s basketball wins 66-50 against Hawai’i in NCAA first round

The idea that a Hawaiian team could upend a highly touted UC school was no longer alien to Hawai’i women’s basketball. Barely 24 hours before the women tipped off against UCLA on Sunday afternoon, the No. 13 men’s team had outworked No. 4 California for a shocking upset. The women knew what could happen, and […]

Sophomore Monique Billings provides spark for Bruins’ turnaround season

Monique Billings had never won a game against Arizona State. But on a Sunday afternoon in late February, the sophomore forward really wanted to. The Bruins would be done with the 2015-2016 regular season after their game against the then-No. 9 Sun Devils. Up to that point, Arizona State was the only team that UCLA […]

Women’s basketball advances to Pac-12 final after overtime Cal win

UCLA was in a predicament. Down by three against Cal with seven seconds left, coach Cori Close called a time-out to decide who was going to take the shot. Two weeks ago, Close wouldn’t have thought twice. Kari Korver was the Bruins go-to 3-point shooter. The junior guard had been raining 3s all season – […]

Women’s basketball optimistic about position in Pac-12 tournament

Things could be worse for the women’s basketball team. Things could be like last year. The Bruins went into the 2014-2015 season ranked, but after a tumultuous schedule that included an 8-10 conference record, they were in a position to either win the Pac-12 tournament or not make it to the NCAA tournament. It was […]