UCLA Decimates Indiana in Pauley

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

   Shay Ciezki returned to the starting lineup, but it was short lived as the Senior Guard re-tweaked her ankle with 3 minutes left in the first quarter and did not return as #2 UCLA Bruins dominated the Indiana Hoosiers 92-48 Sunday Afternoon at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles. Ciezki scored 2 points on 1-3 shooting and had a steal. Ciezki missed Thursday’s Game at USC after rolling her ankle in the Morning shootaround. Coming into the game she was nine points away from joining the 1,000-point club for her Hoosier career and will have to wait until the Hoosiers return home next Sunday when they Host Oregon at 1 PM to have an opportunity to accomplish the feat.

  UCLA is 15-0 in the Big Ten and 25-1 overall and getting closer to clinching the Big Ten Regular Season Championship. The Bruins will remain in Los Angeles hosting Washington and Wisconsin and traveling crosstown to USC to close out the regular season before heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.

  Lauren Betts recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds as Bruins put seven players in double figures. Kiki Rice led the Bruins to score 17 points. Charlisse Ledger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens scored 12 points. Gabriella Jaquez scored 11 points along with 10 points apiece off the bench from Sienna Betts and Lena Bili. UCLA dominated outrebounding the Hoosiers 51-24 with 23 offensive rebounds and 42-16 points in the paint.

  The Bruins went 36-78 from the field for 46%, 8-20 from three-point range for 40% and 12-15 from three-point 3 range for 80%. UCLA dished out 16 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks and 4 turnovers. UCLA led 17-10 after the first quarter and outscored Indiana 30-10 in the second quarter to lead 47-20 at halftime and put it on cruise control in the second half. The Bruins outscored the Hoosiers 29-14 in the third quarter to lead 76-34 going into the fourth quarter and outscored the Hoosiers 16-14 in the fourth quarter.

  Maya Makalusky scored 13 points to lead the Hoosiers after scoring a career high of 29 points Thursday Night at USC. Lenee Beaumont scored 11 points, and Neveah Caffey added 10 points. Phoenix Stotjin scored 7 points, Jerni Kiaku scored 4 points, Edessa Noyan scored 1 point and fouled out in 9 minutes. Jade Ondimeme and Faith Wiseman played for 17 and 14 minutes respectively as both pulled down a rebound and did not score.

  The Hoosiers went 15-48 from the field for 31%, 4-20 from three-point range for 20% and 14-17 from the free throw line for 82%. Indiana had 3 assists, 1 steal, no blocks and 13 turnovers. Sophomore Chloe Spreen did not play and with the game well in hand Hoosier Nation is not sure why Head Coach Teri Moren did not give the Bedford, Indiana Native and Former Indiana Miss Basketball some playing time.

  This is the Hoosiers 10th loss by double digits and the ninth in conference play. The 44-point loss is the largest this season for the Hoosiers. Indiana has a week to rest up and hopes that Ciezki can play next Sunday when the Hoosiers host the Oregon Ducks at 1 PM Sunday. Indiana has a road trip to Rutgers and a Home game against Penn State to close out the regular season. The Hoosiers are sitting in the 15th and final spot for the Big Ten Tournament and Ciezki is looking towards her professional career as she is on WNBA Draft Boards but the good news is she has week to heal for the next game but Indiana is going to do what they need to do protect her long term health and her future at next level after this season.