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The 3-3 UCLA women’s basketball wraps up their trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands with a date against the 17th ranked University of South Florida Bulls this afternoon.
Last Time Out
The Bruins fell in overtime to Kentucky on Friday, 75-74. Despite shooting 51.7% from the floor against Kentucky and holding the Wildcats to 36.9% shooting they still managed to come up short. The Bruins were led by Michaela Onyenwere who scored 28 points, including 19 in the second half, on 12-of-18 shooting. Kennedy Burke also chipped in 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the losing effort. A big takeaway from the loss is that UCLA shot 25% from deep, and an even worse 42.9% from the foul line. Oy vey.
Despite leading 15-14 after the first quarter, Kentucky stifled the Bruins in the second to go into halftime with a 41-31 lead. UCLA flipped the switch defensively in the 3rd quarter, holding the Wildcats to only six points to help claw themselves back into the game. The Bruins trailed 45-39 going into the final frame with their eyes set on a come-from-behind victory. UCLA took their first lead of the second half with 8:10 left in regulation and they shot 9-for-11 due, in large part, to Onyenwere taking over the game. She seemed to hit the game winning tip in with 21 seconds left in the game to put the Bruins up 66-64, but Kentucky answered with a basket with 0.7 left to send the game into OT. The rest was history.
USF Bulls
The 17th-ranked Bulls, much like the Bruins, are 0-2 against UNC and Kentucky in the Paradise Jam. Standing at 4-2, the Bulls will certainly be looking to put their losing streak behind them and head back home on a happy note, but so will UCLA.
USF possess a high octane offense that puts up 75.3 points per game and a stingy defense that surrenders 58.2 points per contest. For those doing the math at home, their average margin of victory is 17.1. That’s pretty good. They’re also holding opponents to 36.6% shooting from the field and 29% from three. USF will be a big challenge for the Bruins on both ends of the floor.
Analysis
Coming off a gut-wrenching overtime loss to Kentucky, you better believe that the UCLA Bruins have their eyes set on avenging that loss. However, it will not come easy against a USF team that gets it done on both ends of the floor. Let’s see if the Bruins can start a new winning streak and head back to Westwood on a happy flight.
This is your UCLA women’s basketball vs. USF open thread.
Go Bruins!