By Jose Trujillo (@jAy_Ay_T):
The season got off to a rough start for the San Jose State women’s basketball team (0-1) as it fell to No. 8 UCLA (1-0) in a lopsided loss 129-69.
San Jose State was a heavy underdog coming into this game, and it was apparent why.
UCLA dominated every important statistical category: Field goal, free throw and three point percentages, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers.
The Spartans were simply outmatched.
But this will happen when you play the eighth ranked team in the country.
UCLA came out on fire. From their first possession, they looked unstoppable. The duo of senior guard Jordin Canada and Monique Billing proved too much for the Spartans to handle. The Bruins put up 38 points in the first quarter. A new school record.
The Bruins forced 22 turnovers on the night, half of them coming from Canada. The senior had a remarkable game finishing with her second career triple double: 26 points, 11 steals, ten assists and six rebounds.Talk about filling up the box score.
Interior defense was a problem for the Spartans. UCLA scored 70 points in the paint and made 47 baskets, hitting only eight threes. The Bruins finished the game shooting an astonishing 56 percent.
For San Jose, rebounding was an area that head coach Jamie Craighead stressed a need of improvement. After getting outrebounded by Stanislaus State in the final exhibition game, Craighead stressed the need to grab more boards.
Unfortunately for coach, UCLA was the not the team to gauge the Spartans improvement on rebounding because they will not face another team this talented the rest of the season.
The Spartans lost the battle on the glass 65 to 37 as three Bruins finished with double-digit rebounds.
For San Jose State, guards Myzhanique Ladd and Megan Anderson led the team in scoring with 11 points each.
Forward Hallie Gennett looked comfortable hitting three of her five three point attempts, scoring nine points in 14 minutes.
The Spartans are back on the hardwood next Friday at home against CSU Bakersfield.
Tip-off is scheduled at 7 p.m. in the Event Center.
