A day after the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team lost in disheartening fashion, the UCLA women’s team did the same, falling 76-65 to No. 4 Texas in a premier matchup at the Players Era Championship.
The loss ensures that UCLA will play in the third place game on Thursday and will drop back below Texas in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Bruins didn’t enter the game with the needed attention to detail, heading to the second quarter already trailing by double-digits at 20-10. They then trailed 45-25 at halftime.
Texas came out ready to play and UCLA didn’t
Both Texas and UCLA entered Wednesday’s game undefeated but the Longhorns quickly showed that they entered the game as the more well-rounded team. The Bruins struggled with turnovers and weren’t able to get to the free throw line until after halftime.
Longhorns knew what the Bruins wanted to do on offense
Texas was certainly ready to play the Bruins, aggressively denying post passes and not allowing Lauren Betts to beat them one-on-one. Betts began the season not aggressively finding her shot and she wasn’t able to do so on Wednesday either, with her offense still looking out of sorts with her scoring down over five points per game from last season.
UCLA turns the ball over 20 times, resulting in 11 fewer shot attempts
The Longhorns’ sticky defense led to many turnovers and offensive fouls from the Bruins, with the UCLA offense not being able to find any rhythm until late in the second half with the Bruins down by 20 points. The Bruins just made too many mistakes, committing 20 turnovers in the loss and allowing Texas’ offense to get too comfortable in the first half.
Madison Booker looked like another Texas basketball star in the mid-range
Madison Booker scored 16 points and consistently finding her spots on the court, nailing jumper after jumper. The No. 35 for Texas slithering her way into rhythm to hit the mid-range jumpshots looked like Kevin Durant and UCLA’s defense just had no answer for her.
Rori Harmon controlled the game
Booker wasn’t alone, Rori Harmon outplayed Kiki Rice, with Harmon scoring 26 points and hitting her first two three pointers of the season while drawing an amazing four charges in the game. Rice was instrumental in UCLA’s comeback but Texas built such a large lead, it wasn’t enough for UCLA.
UCLA could have won if not for the horrendous first half
UCLA made things close in the fourth quarter, going on a 22-3 run and getting it to a four-point game but the Bruins struggles in the first half gave Texas just enough breathing room. UCLA had a chance to get within one point, with Gianna Kneepkens having a good look at a three but she couldn’t connect.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: No. 3 UCLA can’t overcome dismal first half, falls to No. 4 Texas
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
