DANIEL WONG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Shalada
Allen hits two of her career-high 20 points as the UCLA
women’s basketball team goes on to defeat Long Beach State.
By By Jackie Abellada
Daily Bruin Contributor
As the buzzer sounded, they hurriedly walked toward the locker
room.
They were ready to go home.
But this time, they did not have their tails between their
legs.
With their heads up high and their faces filled with joy, the
UCLA women’s basketball team left The Pyramid of Long Beach
State with a 77-73 victory.
Finally, they had the shooting night that Bruins head coach
Kathy Olivier has been wishing for all season, successfully
shooting 48.4 percent from the field.
“I’m excited that we got into a little bit of a roll
on the road,” Olivier said. “And you could tell our
team felt good about ourselves.
“And, for them to have confidence, I think that is
huge.”
Natalie Nakase set the tone early in the game, hustling down the
floor and squaring up for several open jump shots. The 49ers (9-10)
underestimated the 5-foot-2 Bruin guard’s shooting
ability.
And Nakase made them pay by cashing in the first eight points
for her team. She finished the night with 14 points and five
rebounds.
“They were leaving me open so I just took off in the
beginning of the game.”
Utilizing her almost unstoppable turnaround, fade-away jump shot
from outside, Shalada “She-She” Allen led the
Bruins’ brigade with a career high 20 points. Defensively,
she also added a career-high three blocks.
“I love that shot because the only other person I know
that has it is Michael Jordan. It is just something I like and
it’s working for me.”
The game was tight throughout as both teams battled for position
on the court and on the scoreboard. With 11 lead changes, the game
teetered on which squad could muster enough strength to get a
final, decisive spurt.
And last night was definitely the Bruins’ night. Using a
6-0 run early in the second half, UCLA pulled into the lead, this
time, for good.
Malika Leatham added to the Bruins’ victory with a
double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 boards.
With the win, the Bruins (7-15, 4-10 Pac-10) gain some
confidence and momentum that they hope to maintain when they face
crosstown rival USC on the road this Saturday.