W. basketball win catches Arizona at last minute

W. basketball win catches Arizona at last minute

By Emmanuelle Ejercito

Daily Bruin Staff

Winning by 17 points with 3:12 left in the game, it looked as if
Arizona was going to trample over the UCLA women’s basketball
team.

But then again, looks can be deceiving.

Ignited by a determined Aisha Veasley and forcing turnovers with
their full court press, the Bruins scored 22 of the final 27 points
including a 19-2 run to cap regulation and force the game into
overtime.

The momentum then belonged to UCLA (9-6 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) as
it propelled its way to an 89-85 triumph over the Wildcats.

Veasley came off the bench to score a team and career high 18
points. But defense was her most important contribution. Veasley
put the pressure on Arizona (11-2, 3-2) and forced key turnovers in
the last minute which allowed the Bruins to tie the game.

"I was on the bench in the first half and we were losing and I
couldn’t believe it," Veasley said. "Then when I was in I was like
‘OK, I’ve got to do this, we want this game – anything to do it,
any means possible.’"

Her intensity was evident, especially on the boards. Veasley
grabbed eight rebounds including five significant offensive boards
as she powered her way inside, drawing fouls and making free throws
that helped keep the Bruin run going.

"Veasley came in and was just a huge spark," UCLA head coach
Kathy Olivier said. "She used her quickness, she penetrated the
zone, she had three steals and for her to hit 10 of 12 free throws
that was just huge for us. It was great."

After a Zrinka Kristich bank shot, the Bruins applied a
full-court press, swatting the ball out of bounds on two
consecutive inbound passes. Finally, on their third try, the
Wildcats threw a long pass to the opposite end of the court only to
have Nickey Hilbert steal the ball, toss it to Erica Gomez who then
pulled up for a three pointer. The Bruins then trailed by seven
with 1:43 to go.

UCLA again applied the press and forced another turnover, but
this time it was Veasley who stole the ball and was fouled. She
connected on one of two from the line to cut the lead to 6.

"Our press had a lot to do with the reason we won," Olivier
said. "We just full court pressed them and picked it up a
level."

The Bruins tied the game at 73 after Veasley made two
free-throws with 0:28 left. Using its pressure defense, UCLA stole
the ball and had the chance to win. But Gomez committed a turnover
with 0:09 left. Just as Arizona was about to breakaway for a sure
basket, Hilbert fouled Brenda Pantoja. Pantoja made two free throws
and Arizona had a two point lead with 0:08 remaining. But the
Bruins had the last word as Tawana Grimes hit a running shot from
the right side to keep UCLA alive.

"For us to come back like that it was a total team effort,"
Olivier said. "The whole bench got into it. Everyone kept saying in
the huddle ‘You’ve got to believe.’"

FRED HE/Daily Bruin

Aisha Veasley scored a career-high 18 points and sparked UCLA’s
19-2 run at the close of regulation.

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