Westwood, CA- UCLA finished with five players in double figures indicating signs of composure and chemistry that rewarded them a cruise control finish while holding off Arizona to the very end with allowing them to only score five points in the final quarter, sealing their victory, 76-44.
Well, Addy really hasn’t played the three at all…and they’re a really small team,” Mark Price UCLA Head Coach Cori Close said to fi360News during postgame presser. “We thought we could get guard post ups which we did. The very first play of the game I ran a guard post up for KK and we scored…But you know Somto got a couple as well. She’s been doing the work in practice. She’s earned it. And even though she had little bit wild moments at time, it wasn’t her best shooting, but I don’t think this is the end- all be all…”
Lady Bruins jumped out to a 7-2 run with taking full advantage of having versatile big guards and forwards with guard skills. On top of their roster depth including multiple transfers, UCLA started to showcase in front of a few former Lady Bruins in the stands how they’re able to replace former players and perhaps repeat last season success through a blend of balanced offensive threats utilizing big lineups in frontcourt as well as backcourt.
“I think just seeing Mick was amazing,” Timea Gardiner said to fi360News. “I kind of leaned on her a little bit last year like going through the process of sitting out and red shirting and she was there with me through the entire process and so I think it was really cool for her to just be like it’s so good to see you all on the court.”
Coach Close started the game with her biggest guard lineup with Hunter, Bransford and Okofor. In addition, she chose later in the game and finished most of the second half with her biggest front-court lineup including Betts, Gardiner and Brown while Gardiner as small forward that gave Arizona even more matchup challenges for their undersized team.
“Sometimes it’s not things that show up in the stat sheets, it’s how you affect the unit. And that’s what I’m trying to get every player to think about is how do you when you’re on the floor, how do you help us get more stops?” Coach Close said to fi360News “When you’re on the floor, how do we get more efficient shots? and understanding what everybody’s superpower is and maybe what their weakness is that they need to connect and cover for and that’s what we’re trying to get to…”
UCLA lead at halftime by double digits, 37-24 but the Wildcats quickly opened the second half on a 5-0 run to get it down to eight before Gardiner answered with a 6-0 solo scoring run to shift the momentum back towards her team, hitting buckets all across the court.
“I’ve only been back for a couple months,” Gardiner said to fi360new. “This is my third month back. And so I just think just staying patient and playing with an incredible group…It’s so much fun. Every time I step out there, I just have such a wave of gratitude to put the jersey on and to represent UCLA with my teammates. And so I just really just stay in the present moment, having fun with it, and just really taking it for what it is, which is the game.”
Once Gardiner chilled out then it was Brown’s turn to catch a fire again, knocking down her third deep ball in the second half, to give UCLA a 51-37 advantage.
“I just think you know from the day I stepped on campus like everyone was very welcoming and just like ready to work right away,” Brown said to fi360news during postgame presser. “Obviously Coach Cori brings the energy and juice every single day, which I love. Like there’s no days off…I love that and I think again like the the group as a whole just did a really good job of making me feel welcomed, and continuing to push me to be my best version of myself and I’m not even close yet and I know that, but I just think like coach Cori said like we’re laying a brick each game, one game at a time…”
Bransford got back into action after sitting the bench in slight foul trouble, converting a three-point play following her triple to close the third quarter, 62-39 Bruins.
UCLA went back inside most of the fourth, finding Betts or Gardiner before drawing the defense to free up Brown and other backcourt players to make klutch offensive plays including Okofor whom despite had a tough shooting night particular in which a sequence of three straight missed jumpers yet she finished with 10 points, leading the team in ± at 32. Also, she recorded five rebounds, two steals and two assists.
“I think Santo had really good weeks of practice and I thought she deserved the first nod there and we’re just a little deeper there,” Coach Close said to fi360News. “We have more options. So to start a big early I just think over the course of a game that might have worn down our forwards.”
Lady Bruins returning forward Betts boasted another double-double this season, scoring 11 points and snagging 10 boards. Former Iowa State transfer Brown led all scorers with 18 points off 3-of-6 from long range. Bruins committed only eight turnovers and shared the ball plenty tonight with 21 assists.
UCLA now prepares for Sunday’s ceremonial game against Princeton which includes the raising of their national championship banner.
