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Friday, January 30, 1998

Blazing shooting helps team upset Washington

W. BASKETBALL: For the first time in six meetings, Bruins defeat Huskies

By Chris Umpierre

Daily Bruin Contributor

It wasn't supposed to be this easy. When the UCLA women's basketball team tipped off against the No. 18 Washington Huskies, a team they haven't beaten in the last six games, in Hec Edmundson Pavilion, a court they hadn't won on since 1994, the Bruins were supposed to be challenged to a tough game.

But the Bruins (11-6, 6-2) came out of the locker room on fire, shooting 71 percent from the field in the first half en route to a surprisingly easy 80-59 upset of the No. 18 team in the land in front of a shocked 2,816.

The victory gives UCLA wins in six of their last seven games. But more importantly, the Bruins are now 4-0 on the road in the Pac-10.

"It's exciting," UCLA head coach Kathy Olivier said. "We are playing really great ball right now."

The win at Edmundson adds to the list of other Bruin victories in tough places: the team had already won on USC's Lyon Center and Oregon's MacArther Court.

It was a good game until the 8:26 mark of the first half when UCLA led by a slim 19-16 margin.

Then the Bruins went unconscious.

UCLA seemed like they could do no wrong as they went on a 23-4 run to close out the first half. The brilliant run gave the Bruins a 42-20 lead at the break and the team never looked back.

The Bruins would lead as much as 29 points in the second half and never fewer than 17 points. The Huskies second half comeback was halted by UCLA's continued hot shooting in the second half. The team cooled off to 45 percent from the field, finishing the game with 57 percent.

During the crucial first half run, center Janae Hubbard scored 10 points in the paint. The sophomore would finish the game with 12 points.

Hubbard led a balanced attack for the Bruins as everyone joined in the fray. Maylana Martin scored 12 points and Melanie Pearson added 11 points.

One reason for UCLA's dominance of the Huskies (12-5, 3-5) was their ability to shut down the No. 2 Pac-10 scorer. The Huskies' Jamie Redd, who averages 21 points per game, was in foul trouble early in the game and could never get back into the flow. The junior point guard finished the game with a season low four points on a putrid two of 10 shooting.

UCLA's Erica Gomez was another reason Redd wasn't able to put up her usual points.

When Gomez was forced to sit out last season because of a knee injury, Redd scored 31 points en route to a Husky thrashing of the Bruins at Edmundson.

But this year Gomez was back in the line-up and was able to hold Redd at bay. Gomez also sparkled on the offensive end, registering a game high eight assists.

The Bruins will next travel to Pullman to take on the Washington State Cougars (9-7, 3-4) on Saturday at 1 pm.

"Washington State is a different look for us," Olivier said. "Where Washington has 4,000 people in the crowd, there won't be a lot of people at Saturday's game."

The Cougars also play a more physical game than the Huskies. Washington State depends on their big backcourt of senior Yvonne Kunze and Alke Dietel. The 6 foot 4 inch duo have been scoring 13 and 14 points respectively.

Washington State, who's currently at the bottom of the Pac-10, have already proven their ability to beat top teams.

On Jan. 8, the Cougars stunned the women's basketball world as they upset No. 10 Arizona, 64-61, on the road.

The Bruins will have to show the same intensity that they will tonight to come out of Washington with a sweep.

MARY CIECEK

Marie Philman dribbles the ball past a California guard.

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