UCLA holds on to beat Arizona State 54-50

Story by Brett Shapoff

UCLA hosting Arizona State. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

In a game that saw a total of forty-two turnovers by both teams, it still was exciting down to the last few seconds, as 19^th-ranked UCLA squeezed by Arizona State, 54-50, at the House that Wooden built [Pauley Pavilion].

Although not pretty in terms of execution and cohesiveness, both teams clawed and scraped to the end, before 1,565 fans, who appreciated the hard-fought, back-and-forth play, on Sunday afternoon.

Many of the game statistics were virtually even: field-goals made: UCLA 19 to Arizona State’s 18; three-pointers made: UCLA 5 to Arizona State’s 4; free-throws made: UCLA 11 to Arizona State’s 10. The rebounding edge went to UCLA 35-24. The turnovers were not a thing either coach was happy about: UCLA committed 23, while Arizona had 19.  

UCLA's #2 Kari Korver. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

The game, for the most part, was close – never more than an 8-point lead – by either team. Both teams played man-to-man defense, as well as, zone. It was just one of these games that although, not very proficient in execution, it displayed hustle, mental toughness, and real determination by both teams to win.

UCLA (15-4 overall) was led by Nirra Fields who had 13 points, including, 3-three-pointers, and Jasmine Dixon Dixon who contributed 12 points. Dixon was strong underneath and it resulted in her going to the line eight times and converting six of them. As a team, the Bruins shot 73% (11-15) from the charity stripe.

UCLA coach, Cori Close, stated in her post-game conference, that the game was not pretty - with so many turnovers - but it was her team’s mental toughness that propelled them to victory. Coach Close mentioned her team will watch game film to see (and learn) more about their turnovers, but she stressed the importance of the mental toughness by her players, especially, in pulling-out a hard-fought victory like this one.

UCLA's#33 Jasmine Dixon hustling for a
loose ball. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Bruins needed two three-pointers, one by Kari Korver with 2:33 remaining in the game, and one by Nirra Fields with 1:20 remaining in the game, to keep the pesky Sun Devils from stealing a victory.

Arizona State (11-9 overall) was led by Janae Fulcher’s 13 points, Promise Amukamara’s 7 points, and a trio of players – Adrianne Tomas, Arnecia Hawkins and Joy Burke – who all pitched in 6 points a piece. Thomas and Amukamara also had 8 and 6 rebound respectively.

The Sun Devils held the Bruins to 17.5 points per game below their season average, but the Bruins still found a way to win: ‘Mental Toughness’!

Next up for the Bruins are the mountain-state schools of Colorado and Utah, who visit Pauley Pavilion this coming week.