As college sports continue to be pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, professional leagues have restarted. Each Monday, Daily Bruin Sports will highlight a few standout alumni performances from the past week in ongoing leagues as we await the return of university athletics.
Teagan Micah, Melbourne City FC, Westfield W-League
A former Bruin had a performance to remember in her team debut.
Teagan Micah, who recorded 36 career shutouts as UCLA’s goalie from 2016 to 2019, was named Melbourne City FC’s Player of the Game in its scoreless draw against Brisbane Roar FC in Australia’s top women’s soccer league.
It couldn't have been anyone else, could it?! 🧤
An amazing display in goals from Teagan Micah 💪#BRIvMCY #WLeague pic.twitter.com/OA45VHYXPV
— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) December 29, 2020
The Australian National Team tallied seven saves in her Melbourne City FC debut, including a spectacular save with her right foot after Brisbane forward Leticia McKenna broke through Melbourne’s last line of defense.
🧤 Just some of the HUGE saves from our hero between the sticks 🤯#BRIvMCY #WLeague 🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/jQTidFEVZe
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) December 29, 2020
Micah and her club fell to league-leading Canberra United 2-1 in her second game with the squad and now sit sixth in the table.
Devin Asiasi, New England Patriots, NFL
A UCLA football alumnus caught a pass and found the end zone for the first time on the NFL gridiron.
Tight end Devin Asiasi – drafted 91st overall by the New England Patriots in the 2020 NFL Draft – recorded his first NFL catch and touchdown reception in the Patriots’ 28-14 win against the New York Jets.
First of many for @ASI2X 🙌#ProBruins
pic.twitter.com/2HFbo6OTzT— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) January 3, 2021
After being held without a catch on his previous four targets this season, Asiasi managed to haul in a 13-yard pass from quarterback Cam Newton in the first quarter.
Asiasi, who recorded 13 catches as a Bruin in 2019 that went for longer than 20 yards, followed up his first pro catch with a go-ahead 26-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to give New England a 21-14 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
While the score and win ended Asiasi’s first NFL season on a high note, his team finished the season 7-9 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, and Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards, NBA
After a clash of UCLA guards on New Year’s Eve, Russell Westbrook was left searching for his first victory with his new team.
In the Washington Wizards’ 133-130 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Westbrook tallied his fourth triple-double in his fourth game this season, scoring 22 points while tacking on 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Westbrook drilled a 17-foot jumper with 1:17 remaining to give Washington a 1-point lead, but the Wizards couldn’t hold on to win.
While Westbrook continued to accumulate triple-doubles, former Bruin guard Zach LaVine iced the game for Chicago, knocking down two critical free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining to give the Bulls a 3-point lead.
LaVine – who played in all 37 games of his only season at UCLA – recorded 22 points in the Bulls’ second win of the season, despite making only one of his seven 3-point field goal attempts. LaVine also added a season-high seven assists.
After sitting out the Wizards’ first victory of the season on New Year’s Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Westbrook is averaging 20.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 11.8 assists per game in his first season with the Wizards, while LaVine accounts for 24.6 points per game for the 10th-place Bulls.
