Despite a slow start in the desert, the Bruins found their rhythm when it mattered the most.

No. 3 UCLA women’s water polo (7-1, 1-0 MPSF) opened conference play with a 12-8 victory over No. 11 Arizona State (9-3, 0-1) in Tempe, Arizona, on Sunday.

A week removed from the Bruins’ first defeat since 2023, an eerily similar start appeared during the match against the Sun Devils.

Playing from behind through much of the first half, UCLA’s 2:17 dry run was broken in the final two minutes of the second quarter, spearheaded by freshman attacker Jojo Walters.

“We weren’t taking advantage of the free water in front of us, so we were taking shots from distance that we didn’t need to be and not approaching the goal the right way,” said coach Adam Wright. “Credit to the girls, they turned that around in the second quarter, and it was a tale of completely two different quarters from the first to the second.“

Walters sported a career-high four goals and two assists, supported by four goals and an assist from redshirt junior attacker Emma Lineback.

Three straight third-quarter goals awarded the Bruins a 9-5 lead – an advantage they’d hold on to for the rest of the affair.

“After that first quarter, it was about taking our time and working the zones and making ASU play a full possession of defense, and that’s when we started scoring,” Lineback said. “Once we were really working together, that’s when we had success.”

Five Bruins found the back of the net Sunday, while senior attacker Molly Renner anchored the defense with a team-high three blocks.

“Today’s emphasis was really playing as a team, communicating, connecting together,” Walters said. “It’s hard to come back from a loss like that (against USC), but we’re focusing on ourselves and playing how we know how to play.”

For the first time in sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Steele’s career, the 2024 NCAA Most Valuable Player would not see the pool. Instead, fellow sophomore Joey Niz took the reins in her first collegiate start.

Niz notched six saves and a steal across the match, allowing just eight goals on 29 Sun Devil shots.

“We want to try and have a balanced attack and defense, and we have players where different people can step up game to game,” Wright said.

The Bruins will continue their string of away matches against the Anteaters on Saturday in Irvine.