A year ago, Madeline Brooks would have been in warmups on the bench cheering on her teammates.
But this season against then-No. 10 Oklahoma, the junior guard found herself walking the almost 80 feet from the defensive baseline to the free throw line with UCLA up two points and 15 seconds left on the game clock.
Under the bright lights, all eyes in Pauley Pavilion followed Brooks’ footsteps.
Brooks said she made sure that her body language reflected her steeled confidence the entire way. She kept telling herself that she was going to hit those two free throws.
In an eerily silent Pauley Pavilion, the bounce of the ball reverberated through the stadium, followed by a swish. The crowd exploded briefly before it hushed itself to watch the second follow suit.
And just like that, Brooks pushed the Bruins’ lead to four, slamming the door on the Sooners’ hopes of avoiding an upset.
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Story by: Derrek Li
