Markel Walker and Darxia Morris each scored 15 points and No. 12 UCLA remained unbeaten with a 67-43 win over Loyola Marymount on Friday night.
The Bruins played without leading scorer and rebounder Jasmine Dixon because of lingering concussion-like symptoms.
''I was very proud of the play of our kids stepping up,'' Caldwell said. ''I'm glad they took it as an opportunity for them to get more minutes.''
Candice Nichols scored 12 of her 14 points in the first half and Hazel Ramirez added 11 for the Lions (4-4) who are 0-7 against UCLA.
''We didn't schedule these games for moral victories, we schedule these games to test and challenge ourselves,'' LMU coach Julie Wilhoit said. ''We're not healthy, and we competed for a large portion of this game.''
Ramirez was fouled while making a 3-pointer early in the second half and converted the four-point play to get Loyola Marymount within a point at 38-37.
UCLA answered with 10 straight points, including six from Walker.
''Defensively, when we did decide to get after them, we were able to turn them over and get our transition game going,'' Caldwell said.
Christina Nzekwe and Antoyne Nyingifa both finished with eight points and eight rebounds for the Bruins (6-0), who outrebounded LMU 41-25.
''That's the one thing about our bench, we can go deep and keep them coming, and not just rely on one person'' Walker said.
