Sometimes, the distinction between a staff on the crest of the nationwide rankings isn’t discernably higher than an opponent that lately burst into the highest 10.
Other occasions, although, rankings replicate actuality. And, sure, No. 2-ranked Stanford proved superior to No. 8-ranked UCLA on Friday night time in a Pac-12 Conference ladies’s basketball recreation at Pauley Pavilion, profitable 72-59.
The Bruins have a star in Charisma Osborne, spectacular depth and an excellent freshman class. Yet they’re painfully inferior in a single key space: placing the ball within the basket.
The Cardinal (17-1, 5-0) got here in taking pictures 48% and 34% from three-point vary. UCLA (14-3, 3-2) got here in taking pictures 40% and 29% from past the arc. Those percentages just about held.
Stanford scored 9 of the primary 11 factors within the third quarter, turning a 32-32 halftime tie right into a 41-34 lead earlier than UCLA known as timeout. The Bruins rallied, although, and entered the fourth quarter trailing solely 51-49. However, the Cardinal once more started a interval scorching, scoring the following 15 factors.
UCLA was scoreless the primary 8:04 of the fourth quarter, lacking 11 consecutive pictures and rendering their opportunistic protection a footnote. Cardinal heart Cameron Brink blocked 5 pictures within the quarter and 7 within the recreation.
Spirited protection by UCLA stored the rating even within the first half, 32-32. Cardinal All-American Haley Jones made solely three of 9 field-goal makes an attempt, alternately hounded by Osborne and freshman reserve Gabriela Jaquez.
Osborne additionally was chilly, making two of 10 pictures within the half. The baskets got here back-to-back from three-point vary lower than three minutes into the second quarter, pushing UCLA forward, 25-20. Points grew to become scarce from there, nonetheless. A 3-pointer by Jaquez with 2:36 to play within the half was the one Bruins’ basket from the sector within the final seven minutes of the half. Osborne completed with 13 factors and 7 rebounds. Gina Conti additionally had 13 factors for the Bruins.
“I like what we are doing on the defensive end,” UCLA coach Cori Close stated at halftime. “On the offensive end, we need to move the basketball to take advantage of mismatches.”
Not a lot did change, with UCLA forcing turnovers and hanging robust a lot of the second half, solely to falter offensively.
