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UCLA Basketball: The win over #2 Oregon is a turning point for the program

By Mike Regalado

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 08: UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close watches the play during the game with the Texas Longhorns during the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Showcase at Reliant Stadium on December 8, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 08: UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close watches the play during the game with the Texas Longhorns during the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Showcase at Reliant Stadium on December 8, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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The women’s UCLA basketball team has turned a corner in their program as they took down #2 Oregon, which will not only give them momentum going into the post-season but into the future.

The UCLA basketball women’s team just completed a nearly impossible task. Not only was it an astounding result, but it is the beginning of a story Bruins fans will be telling for several years.

RELATED: UCLA Men’s Basketball – Jaylen Hands has 27 Points in Comeback Over Oregon

On Friday night, the Women of Westwood did the impossible as they went into Eugene and took down the #2 Oregon Ducks, which was the first time UCLA has beaten Oregon in two years and the first time they beat them on their home court since 2016.

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This was a complete effort by head coach Cori Close’s squad as UCLA had to make a monumental effort to come back in this game after starting out slow but never faltered as they marched on to victory. Indeed, this is one of the biggest wins in Close’s tenure.

The Bruins were down early in this game. Oregon, the masterful program that they are, had given UCLA everything they had and jumped out to a 42-27 lead. At one point, the Ducks had increased their lead to 22 points.

That didn’t deter the Bruins who slowly fought their way back into the game behind the efforts of Kennedy Burke, Japreece Dean, and Michaela Onyenwere. Burke had gone off for an unprecedented 29 points as she sunk 12/17 shots. Though Dean struggled to get her 14 points, she helped out with 9 assists. Onyenwere also added 12 points.

Though the Bruins’ buckets were finally falling late in the game, it was their effort on defense that stood out as they limited Oregon to 35.4% shooting in the second half (25% in the 3rd quarter).

With this win and Arizona State losing, UCLA now has sole possession of fourth place in the Pac 12 standings.

This was a big victory for many reasons, but it’s also a turning point because Close slayed the dragon that was #2 Oregon. On top of that, she has proven that this team can play anyone anywhere and will beat them on their home court. This season, UCLA is 7-1 on the road in conference. Amazing.

Now can they get the sweep? Today, the Bruins play #12 Oregon State and if they manage to beat them, UCLA will have three road sweeps this season. That is unprecedented, especially when you consider that half of their wins have come against ranked teams.

But even if they lose to OSU, the results are in as they are growing into their own and making a name for themselves. They are proving that they can fight, fight, fight and will take that moxie into the post-season. This is a new UCLA basketball women’s team and fans need to stand up and take notice.