Jordin Canada drives past Courtney Ekmark to lay it up and in. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Los Angeles – Nine fourth-quarter points from Jordin Canada helped lift No. 8 UCLA over No. 25 Arizona State, 71-63, in a fiercely-contested matchup Sunday.
Canada had 16 points on the day and dished six of her 10 game assists in the final frame to get by the defense-minded Sun Devils and remain in a three-way tie for first in Pac-12 standings. Canada committed no turnovers.
Lajahna Drummer had a season-high 15 points, while Monique Billings added 14 and Michaela Onyenwere, 12 off the bench in what was the tenth consecutive win for the Bruins.
Coach Cori Close said Arizona State’s effort was what she expected from them, especially since they were upset Friday.
“They gave us all we could handle,” Close said. “We pride ourselves on our defense, and we had a heck of a time matching up with (theirs).”
UCLA led 41-29 at halftime, but slumped in the third quarter and were outscored 20-13 by the visitors, who trailed by only five points at the end of the period. Drummer also stepped up in the fourth, scoring six points and grabbing three rebounds.
Close said she was proud of the leadership shown by Canada and Billings – the team’s top statistical leaders for the last two years. She saw the turning point in the matchup come when Billings saved a ball from going out of bounds, which led to a Canada bucket.
“It felt like, ‘we’re going to make enough plays to win,’” Close said. “(ASU) had three people around (Billings) at all times – that’s how much respect they had for Monique. And much respect for Jordin with 10 assists and zero turnovers.”
“To have such composure in the adversity of the game, such confidence and knowing when to take up the slack…..I was really proud of their leadership in different ways.”
Billings said that going into the fourth quarter, the team knew they had to step up.
“I just remember looking at Jordin and saying, ‘they’re not going to come in our house and get this win,’” Billings said. “That was my mindset: ‘this is our house.’ And she looked at me and said ‘yeah, let’s get it.’”
Robbi Ryan led Arizona State with 14 points, while Courtney Ekmark and Kianna Ibis each added 13.
The Sun Devils, riddled with injuries on top of having a young team this season, has fought hard and gone in and out of the AP top 25 all season. Guard Kiara Russell sustained an ankle injury early in the game and played only four minutes. Coach Charli Turner Thorne said she was proud of her team’s effort in the face of adversity.
“Our starting guards played the entire second half without a sub,” Turner Thorne said. “When (Russell) went out, that could have been a wrap in the second quarter, but we came out and had a really good second half.”
“We were right there to take the game, and missed some shots we should have made. When they missed their shots they had extra effort and got the rebounds, and we need to do that.”
The Bruins remain in a tie with Stanford and Oregon, who also won Sunday, for first place in Pac-12 standings. UCLA travels to Oregon this weekend to take on Oregon State Friday, and the Ducks Monday for conference bragging rights.
Canada said her team is ready to tackle the momentous week.
“We have to be focused,” she said. “I told the team, this is a very important week for us. We have to stay locked in….every day counts….every rep matters. We have to stay focused in practice.”
Billings agreed.
“It’s the reps that are going to give us confidence in the game,” she said. “If we work hard this week, we’ll have confidence in the game.”
UCLA players in the pre-game Play4Kay walk. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Sophia Elenga looks to pass over Monique Billings. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Courtney Ekmark is defended by Kelli Hayes. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Reili Richardson drives inside. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings defends Sophia Elenga. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Kelli Hayes defends Courtney Ekmark. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Robbi Ryan prepares to launch a shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Coach Cori Close talks to Jordin Canada as she comes out of the game. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Kianna Ibis looks to pass. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Reili Richardson drives to the basket. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jamie Ruden shoots. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Lajahna Drummer secures the rebound. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Robbi Ryan drives as Kennedy Burke defends. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Lajahna Drummer and Kennedy Burke. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Michaela Onyenwere boxes out. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Kelli Hayes and Jordin Canada confer. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Kelli Hayes and Bre’yanna Sanders fight for ball possession. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Kelli Hayes gets ball possession. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Lajahna Drummer maintains ball control. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada calls out the play. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings swings the ball before making a move. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings drives to the hoop. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada at a pause. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada surveys the court before making her next move. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Freshman Michaela Onyenwere scored 12 points – her second consecutive matchup in double figures. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings debates the pass or the shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada’s speed gets her past everyone on the court. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Lajahna Drummer and Robbi Ryan box each other out. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings likes a referee call. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada initiates the drive. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada looks for an outlet in being defended. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Sophia Elenga debates her passing options. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings prepares to make a tough shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Monique Billings goes for a tough shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada drives to the hoop for another bucket. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada’s passion is always apparent during play. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Jordin Canada scores. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Lajahna Drummer watches her shot fall. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Michaela Onyenwere exults at a Bruin scoring run late in the game. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Senior Monique Billings has a word with freshman Michaela Onyenwere. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
Courtney Ekmark and Kennedy Burke fight for ball control late in the game. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.
