UCLA Basketball: Bruins survive an NCAA Tournament 1st round scare

The #6 UCLA basketball women’s team dominated for most of their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup with #11 Tennessee and survive a second-half comeback by the Lady Volunteers to move on in the Big Dance.

March Madness… it’s faaaaaaaaaantastic! Or something like that. Either way, the Big Dance is here and the UCLA basketball women’s team continue to roll as they take down #11 Tennessee and advance to the Round of 32.

The Bruins, who are one of the hottest teams entering the tournament, continued their late-season assault as they nearly allowed a comeback, but held it off with a dominating fourth quarter. With this win, UCLA has now won 12 of the last 15 games.

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It all started when head coach Cori Close and her Bruins jumped out to a quick lead on the Volunteers. UCLA dominated in the first quarter with an offensive barrage. The early attack was facilitated by Japreece Dean who had four quick assists in the first eight minutes to help the Bruins jump out to a 25-8 lead. She finished the game with five assists and 14 points, four of which came in the final 26 seconds of the game to help ice the win.

Dean did have had a tough time scoring, going 3/17 for the game, but the rest of the team was there to help pick up the slack. Michaela Onyenwere once again made her presence felt, especially in the final frame as she scored eight of her 22 points to fend off Tennessee’s comeback.

After the Bruins jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first, Tennessee took its time to close the gap. It was not for the lack of trying but the Bruins could not keep the lead as their shooting started to dwindle after the first quarter. After shooting over 50% in the first frame, UCLA’s field goal percentage dipped down to 23 in the third.

That was enough to help Tennessee get back in the game and take their first lead with just under nine minutes left in the game.

Luckily the Bruins were able to pick things up at that point, especially their shooting as they went 64% from the floor behind a solid effort by Dean, Onyenwere, Kennedy Burke, and Lindsay Corsaro took over. Burke finished the game with 19 points with Corsaro collecting 18. Lajahna Drummer rounded out the double-digit scoring by the starters as she finished with 10 points.

UCLA moves on top play #3 Maryland on Monday night in the Round of 32. The Terrapins defeated #14 Radford earlier in the day by a score of 73-51.