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UCLA Basketball: The women’s team make a statement after a slow start

By Mike Regalado

LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 21: A detailed view of a basketball ahead of the game between the UCLA Bruins and UAB Blazers during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 21, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 21: A detailed view of a basketball ahead of the game between the UCLA Bruins and UAB Blazers during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 21, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The UCLA basketball women’s team made a big statement on Tuesday as they came back from a slow start in the season and the game against #14 Georgia.

UCLA basketball coach Cori Close had a had a wake-up call on Tuesday as the Bruins had an unusual weekday morning tipoff. When was the last time you heard of any major college program starting their contest at 11 a.m. on Tuesday against a ranked team?

RELATED: Podcast – An Interview with Head Coach Cori Close

Though it was a game that not many fans attended, the Bruins still had a job to do and made a big statement in the process.

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The UCLA women’s basketball team started their season just over a week ago at LMU with an unfortunate outcome. The UCLA Bruins (2-1), had a tough time on the road in their season opener as they lost to the Lions, 69-63, in a game that felt uncharacteristic of a Cori Close team.

It did not get any easier when the Bruins returned to Pauley Pavilion last Sunday to face RIce. The Bruins struggled to pull away from the Owls but were able to get the “W”. The slow start to the season bled into their Tuesday morning contest against #14 Georgia (2-1).

Part of the slow start is attributed to the fact that the Bruins are still trying to find their groove in the post-Jordin Canada/Monique Billings era. Both players, who now in the WNBA, were a big part of their offensive output and defensive stranglehold. UCLA is stacked with talent this season, but they have needed time to adjust to a new lineup and rotation. They seemed to find that late in the contest against the Bulldogs on Tuesday.

Georgia started the game with more energy which was hard for the Bruins to match, at least in the first two quarters. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 22-12 lead after the first frame and led 40-31 at the break. It looked like the Bruins were once again going to have to succumb to another defeat, but that was before sophomore Michaela Onyenwere took off for 17 points in the second half, totaling 25 in the game. She also grabbed 11 rebounds in the process. It was her first double-double of the season.

UCLA had fought back in the 3rd quarter, tying the game at 51 heading into the last frame. Georgia started the 4th with an 11-6 run, but that is where their efforts came to a halt. UCLA went on a 23-8 run to close out the game at that point. Along with Onyenwere, senior Kennedy Burke also went on a second-half point party as she contributed 15, part of her 21 total. Both Bruins combined to go 12/15 from the field in the second half.

Japreece Dean, who is still feeling out her role as floor general, added 17 points, 5 assists and 2 steals to help the Bruins get the win. She led all Bruins in the first half with 10 points.

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What began as a bit of a disappointment for the Bruins, in both the game and the season, quickly turned into a statement, not just to themselves, but to the nation. UCLA may not have their superstars from last season, but they have superstars in the making who are going to fight, fight, fight until the final buzzer.