TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona women's basketball team (4-10, 0-3) fell to UCLA (8-8, 2-2) 67-61 on Friday night at McKale Center.
Freshman LaBrittney Jones scored a career-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a 4-of-5 mark from the free-throw line. Junior Candice Warthen joined Jones in double digits with 10 points, and senior Carissa Crutchfield dished out six assists to tie her season high.
As a team, the Wildcats posted a season-high 10 steals, and their bench outscored the Bruins' subs 20-11. But UCLA outrebounded Arizona 44-35 and posted 26 second-chance points to the Cats' six.
"Again, it comes down to two or three possessions and we don't do enough," Arizona coach Niya Butts said. "We lost by six, and if we finish our defense with a rebound, we are sitting here having a different conversation."
In the first half, UCLA led by as many as 15 before Arizona rallied and closed the half on a 14-6 run, including six points by senior Erica Barnes.
In the second half, the Wildcats pulled within two points, but the Bruins hit consecutive 3-pointers down the stretch to seal the win.
"We were close, and we know we need to get over this hump," Crutchfield said. "We're losing these games by a couple points and we need to learn how to finish. We're close and we know that, so we'll get there."
Senior Thea Lemberger led UCLA with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists.
"Obviously, it's rough. Credit to UCLA for taking care of business and doing enough to win this basketball game," Butts said.
