No. 15 UCLA women knock off 11th-ranked Oregon State 71-51
LOS ANGELES (AP) UCLA has played a tough schedule the last two seasons, and the Bruins never had a victory over a ranked team to show for it.
Until now.
Jordin Canada scored 24 points and the 15th-ranked Bruins defeated No. 11 Oregon State 71-51 Monday night for their first win over a ranked opponent in over two years.
''We've been talking all year about earn what you want,'' UCLA coach Cori Close said. ''These players really bought into the game plan.''
Canada hit all four of her 3-point attempts - a career high - in helping the Bruins (11-3, 3-0 Pac-12) end their 21-game skid against ranked opponents. The Bruins had lost their last 10 games against ranked teams at Pauley Pavilion. Their previous win at home came on Nov. 24, 2013, when they knocked off No. 10 Oklahoma 82-76.
Kari Korver added 12 points, including three 3-pointers, and Nirra Fields had 10 for the Bruins.
''It's really fun to play as hard as we did and get the result we did,'' Korver said.
Jamie Weisner was the only Beaver in double figures with 19 while in foul trouble. Oregon State (10-3, 1-1) had a season-high 26 turnovers that led to 23 points by the Bruins.
''Their pressure was really effective,'' OSU coach Scott Rueck said. ''They forced us into a lot of mistakes. We didn't get comfortable offensively.''
UCLA held Ruth Hamblin to seven points on just four shots and five rebounds after she picked up two fouls in the first half.
''Ruth is one of the best post players in the country,'' Close said. ''We had to disrupt vision and it was having an attack mentality on offense.''
The Bruins led 35-27 at halftime and pulled away in the third quarter. That's when they outscored the Beavers 24-16, helped by two 3-pointers from Canada.
She could see the Beavers were frustrated.
''You can tell by their body language, the way they're dribbling the ball,'' Canada said. ''It feeds into wanting to get another stop after stop.''
UCLA got an 8-0 run early in the fourth to extend its lead to 67-45. Canada hit a pair of free throws to launch it and Kelli Hayes added consecutive baskets.
''When our guards commit to really pressuring and help with the traps, we create great offense by our defense,'' Korver said.
TIP-INS
Oregon State: The Beavers' three-game winning streak against the Bruins ended. ... They dropped from 10th to 11 in the Top 25 poll released Monday. The Beavers have been ranked in the top 11 of the AP poll every week since Dec. 29, 2014. ... They swept the Los Angeles schools last year and were trying to do it in consecutive years for the first time in school history.
UCLA: Korver has made at least one 3-pointer in 25 straight games. ... Canada has had five or more assists in 13 of 14 games this season.
BUSY BRUINS
UCLA played its fourth game in eight days, having won all of them. The Bruins have won eight of their last nine. They beat UC Riverside in their last non-conference game before beating crosstown rival USC in the teams' Pac-12 opener.
INJURED SYD
Guard Sydney Wiese missed her fourth straight game for the Beavers because of an injury to her right hand. She is averaging 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Katie McWilliams started in Wiese's place and had seven points, one assist and a team-high seven turnovers. ''Katie learned a lot,'' Rueck said. ''With Syd on the floor, she's seen that stuff for three years.'' McWilliams was offered a scholarship by UCLA, but she chose the Beavers.
UP NEXT:
Oregon State: Hosts Oregon on Friday.
UCLA: Visits Southern California on Sunday to play the Trojans for the second time in 11 days.
