The Bruins had 10 triples — their highest in nearly three months.
One of those 3 points helped them take the lead late in the fourth quarter. Four of them were from the Jaelynn Penn guard.
So with three seconds left on the clock, needing another 3-pointer to force overtime and extend the season by at least another five minutes, the ball headed for an open Penn on the perimeter.
Penn had a clean look, only to have it slammed on the back edge when the last buzzer sounded. The Indiana transfer, in what turned out to be the final game of his one and only blue-and-gold year, leaned over and hid his face in his jersey as his teammates embraced him.
UCLA women’s basketball (14-12, 8-8 Pac-12) left the court in a loss Thursday night, falling to Oregon (21-10, 11-6) by a score of 63- 60 in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament. The loss marked the end of the Bruins’ pursuit not only of a conference title, but also of their hopes of stealing an NCAA tournament bid.
Entering Thursday, UCLA was ranked No. 42 in the NET. With another loss in hand, the Bruins’ chance to sneak in as a bubble team took a major hit.
UCLA actually seemed to be in control of parts of the deciding game against Oregon, and a win would have moved them closer to achieving March Madness for the sixth straight year.
There were six lead changes in the opening frame, the first of which came on an early 3-pointer from guard Charisma Osborne. Penn ended up scoring 10 straight points on her own later in the first, and forward Angela Dugalic hit a shot against her former team to put the Bruins up 17-16 heading into the second.
Although neither team gained more than three points, there were six more lead changes in the second quarter. Penn got another hat-trick, as did guards Chantel Horvat and Natalie Chou.
Forward IImar’I Thomas hit a layup with three seconds left before halftime, giving UCLA a 32-31 lead at the break.
The third quarter was marked by a change of pace, with the Bruins maintaining their lead throughout the period. Penn, Chou, Osborne and Thomas continued to chain, adding three more 3s between them, while the Ducks only scored back-to-back baskets once.
Oregon kept things close, however, never dropping more than five and heading into the final 10 minutes by just three.
All it took was a 6-0 run in 90 seconds and UCLA was facing a two-possession deficit. Dugalic and Thomas scored to tie the game again, and just after the Ducks took another layup lead, Thomas hit with a 3-pointer to give the Bruins a lead with 4:19 left.
It was the last time UCLA scored.
Oregon also didn’t score a field goal from then on, but two trips to the free throw line in the final 90 seconds helped them regain the lead. The Bruins had several chances to regain control, but three Osborne turnovers dented their chances.
After committing four fouls to finally win the ball back, Penn’s last prayer went unanswered. She co-led her team with 18 points alongside Thomas, but no one else had more than six points, shooting a combined 25.7% from the field.
At this point, all of UCLA’s additional prayers will have to be answered on Draft Monday. For the Bruins to hear their names called on March 14, it might take a Hail Mary.
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