Sunday, November 11, 2012

UCLA 66, San Diego State 52

The UCLA Bruins pulled away in the second half of a sloppy game last night to beat visiting San Diego State, 66-52.

Markel Walker lead the Bruins with 15 points, while Alyssia Brewer added 12. Freshman Kari Korver had 11, which included a trio of three-point shots.

Erimma Amarikwa was the high point-getter for the Aztecs, with 14. Chelsea Hopkins put up 10 and Deajanae Scurry had eight.

There wasn't much difference in the statistics for each team except for the shooting percentage: UCLA shot 40.3 on the night and SDSU shot 28.1.

Box score.

Both teams had players out for the game.

SDSU has two key players out injured for another three or four weeks. UCLA's Rhema Gardner and Lauren Holiday didn't play for a second straight game, and Corrine Costa was dressed in street clothes. The Bruin athletic department has a policy of not discussing the injury status of players, so I don't know what the deal is.

Bright spots for the Bruins are Walker, who is strong as ever, and Brewer, who sat out last year after transferring from Tennessee. Each played a solid game, and the entire team was poised and composed no matter what the score. Korver also shows much potential as a freshman with a deadly trey-shot.

Dixon, who sat out last year after tearing her Achilles tendon, still doesn't look quite herself. Others on the bench will have to step up - especially when more than one player is out.

The Aztecs had a rough shooting night; it one was of those where there seemed to be a lid on the basket. But the fact that Amarikwa, a sophomore, and Scurry, a freshman, lead the scoring effort, is exciting. Scurry was one rebound short of her second double-double of the week.

Hopkins is invaluable to her team as a classic point guard. Not only does she do it all - scoring, assists and even rebounds - she is the boss. She takes players aside to talk to them (see below photo), knows exactly where the ball should be, and never comes out of the game.

Each team showed much potential, but both will have to step up from tip off instead of waiting until the second half of the game to really start playing.


Nae Scurry (#12) blocks Antonye Nyingifa's (#11) shot


Jasmine Dixon (#33) scores over Chelsea Hopkins


Point guard Chelsea Hopkins confers with Courtney Clements, left, and Erimma Amarikwa


Chelsea Hopkins receives the ball in transition

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not a stellar game either team. In fact SDSU just never got it going cause I know they are a better team then they showed. UCLA seemed nervous and out of sync. Markel looked really good, though I am not sure when she became a point guard. Jas still not 100% though there were a couple of momentary flashes of her greatness.. Same with Atonye. Brewer looked ready to go. Definitely gonna need bench support.

Any idea what the statuses of those who did not not play?

Patrick Meighan said...

Markel started playing some point last season, 'cause she knows that at her size she'll have to have some perimeter game for the W.

Like SDSU, UCLA was not especially in-sync for most of the game, and yet they won comfortably... getting it up to ~20 by the final media timeout. I consider this a good sign for the Bruins going forward.

On to Norman, OK.

Patrick Meighan
UCLA Class of '95

Sue Favor said...

Gail - no idea the statuses of those who didn't play, and I'm not going to ask. When I was doing my UCLA preview last month, I asked about Alexis Perry and any other possible injuries, and got this reply from the WBB SID:

Sue,

Sorry, we are not discussing injuries at this time due to H.I.P.A rules. Consider everyone on the roster an active player. When/if Coach Close decides to redshirt someone, that will be announced by her at a time deemed appropriate.