Washington Rally Is Too Much for UCLA

The Washington women’s basketball team completed a 2-0 weekend in Los Angeles on Sunday, beating UCLA, 78-66, and leaving Bruin Coach Kathy Olivier searching for a floor leader.

The Bruins, before 795 at Pauley Pavilion, had a 14-point first-half lead cut to four at halftime and continued to unravel under a stream of turnovers in the second half.

“We were quicker than they were, we had more athletic ability and we should have beaten this team,” Olivier said afterward.

“When the lead dwindled, we started looking for a floor leader, someone to set a tempo for us, and we never found one.”

UCLA, 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the Pacific 10, beat Washington State, 85-75, Friday night, and must play Thursday at Stanford, the class of the conference.

The Huskies (8-5, 2-0), who beat USC, 69-67, Friday, started slowly against the Bruins. Coach Chris Gobrecht’s team, crimped by UCLA’s aggressive defense, trailed, 28-14, five minutes before halftime. The Bruins’ Errica Gomez, Zrinka Kristich, Nickey Hilbert and Tawana Grimes looked as if they were poised to bury the Huskies.

But in the last 3:30 of the first half, guard Jamie Redd--one of the top freshmen in the conference--brought the Huskies back.

She made a three-point basket, a free throw and a basket on a drive to rally Washington to within 34-31.

Early in the second half, Washington point guard Laure Savasta ignited a 20-9 run and suddenly the Bruins trailed, 55-50.

UCLA lost the lead for good when Gena Pelz made an eight-foot jump shot for a 44-43 Washington lead.

A total of 53 fouls were called, leading to 71 free-throw attempts.

Kristich and Hilbert had 19 points each for the Bruins and freshman Gomez had 14 points and six assists, but also had nine turnovers.

Redd led Washington with a game-high 22 points.

“We played hard early but when we got a nice lead we let up and in the Pac-10 you just can’t do that,” Olivier said.

Washington State 90, USC 86--Jenni Ruff made a layup and two free throws in the final 1:42 as the Cougars held off a Trojan rally.

Ruff finished with a game-high 29 points for Washington State (9-3, 1-1).

Kristin Erickson scored 20 of her 23 points in the first half for the Cougars.

USC led by 13 points in the first half and was ahead, 50-43, at halftime after shooting 57%.

Tina Thompson scored 26 points and Adrain Williams and Jodi Parriott added 11 each for the Trojans (5-6, 0-2).