UCLA Women’s Basketball: Bruins Host Unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers

This afternoon, the UCLA women’s basketball team plays its first game since last weekend’s Paradise Jam when the Bruins host the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers at Noon PT at Pauley Pavilion.

Last Time Out

In their third game of the Paradise Jam, UCLA lost to South Florida, 60-56. In this game, it was a bad second quarter, which led to the Bruins’ demise.

In the first quarter, UCLA never trailed. About a minute and a half into the game, Michaela Onyenwere tipped in the first points of the game for UCLA and the Bruins expanded their lead to as many as six points, although the Bulls managed to close the gap to just three by the end of the quarter as UCLA led, 9-6.

With 6:30 left in the first half, South Florida took a one-point lead on a free throw by Sydni Harvey. The Bulls quickly turned that lead into a double digit lead and South Florida led 31-18 at the half.

After South Florida stretched their lead to 15 points coming out of the break, UCLA started to whittle down the Bulls’ lead. The Bruins managed to cut it to as few as six points with 5:52 left in the third quarter, but the Bulls were able to get it back to nine points by the end of the quarter as South Florida led, 47-38.

The Bruins got within three points three separate times in the fourth quarter, but, ultimately, they couldn’t overcome that bad second quarter and lost 60-56.

Japreece Dean led UCLA with 17 points while Kennedy Burke added 16 points and Onyenwere had 10.

Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers closest game so far was their season opener against Milwaukee which Indiana held on to win 68-66. Since that game, Indiana hasn’t really been tested at all. Their second closest game was their game against Wake Forest last week, but even that game had a 14-point margin of victory for the Hoosiers.

Indiana is led by a pair of redshirt juniors in Ali Patberg and Brenna Wise. Patberg, a transfer from Notre Dame is averaging 17.8 points per game for the Hoosiers while Wise is averaging 14.7 ppg. Sophomore Jaelynn Penn is third on the team with 12.3 ppg.

Outlook

If UCLA wants to get back on track, the Bruins are going to need to play some serious defense against the Hoosiers. Indiana does a good job shooting the ball and doesn’t really rely on three-pointers to increase their point total. In fact, the Hoosers have made about a third fewere three-pointers than their opponents.

So, in order for UCLA to come out wiht a win, they will need to stop Patberg and Wise. But, to be honest, I’m not sure the Bruins can win this one. Here’s hoping that they can hold Patberg and Wise in check and hand the Hoosiers their first loss of the season.

This is your UCLA women’s basketball vs. Indiana open thread.


Go Bruins!!