LOS ANGELES – No. 8 UCLA (20-4, 11-2 Pac-12) controlled the game from the tip and knocked off Arizona (6-18, 2-11 Pac-12) by a score of 69-46 in Pauley Pavilion on Friday night. Michaela Onyenwere led the way for UCLA with 17 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
The Bruins dominated the glass all night, outrebounding Arizona 53-29 and outscoring them 38-12 in the paint. They also scored 22 second-chance points on 25 offensive rebounds.
For Arizona, JaLea Bennett scored 19 points, making that the 19th time this season she has scored in double-figures, which is a career-high for the senior. Lucia Alonso also chipped in 11 points with three made three-pointers.
UCLA did a good job of limiting Arizona’s chances in the first half, allowing just 18 total points (seven in the first quarter and 11 in the second quarter). Offensively, the Bruins struggled a bit from the field, but knocked down four threes and scored 10 points off turnovers and led Arizona 35-18.
The Bruins would extend their lead to 27 at the end of the third quarter by doubling Arizona’s point total (20-10), giving UCLA a 55-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Arizona did outscore UCLA in the fourth quarter, but only by four, giving the Bruins a comfortable victory.
The Wildcats will stay in Los Angeles for the rest of the weekend in preparation for a Sunday afternoon affair against the USC Trojans. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. MST.
