Pili’s late layup lifts No. 9 Utah over No. 8 UCLA 71-69

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Alissa Pili drove to the rim for a go-ahead layup with 0.8 seconds left to offer No. 9 Utah a 71-69 win over No. 8 UCLA on Sunday.

Pili scored 23 factors and had 9 rebounds to steer Utah (18-2, 8-2 Pac-12), which rallied twice closed the sport on a 7-0 run. Issy Palmer tallied 14 factors and 5 assists for the Utes, and Dasia Younger chipped in 11 factors.

Emily Bessoir scored 17 factors and had six rebounds to steer UCLA (17-5, 6-4). Kiki Rice added 11 factors, and Londyn Jones and Gabriella Jaquez chipped in 10 factors apiece.

Utah trailed a lot of the first half, battling turnovers, however climbed forward of UCLA 48-43 early within the third quarter on a 12-4 run, capped by Pili’s back-to-back baskets.

The Bruins countered with 4 unanswered baskets, with Bessoir and Jones combining to make three 3-pointers and fueling a 13-0 spurt that gave UCLA a 56-48 lead late within the third quarter.

However within the fourth quarter, the Bruins shot simply 3-of-13 from the sector and Utah rallied once more. Pili buried a 3-pointer to tie it at 69 with 40.3 seconds left.

BIG PICTURE

UCLA: The Bruins countered Utah’s dominance within the paint by relentlessly attacking from the perimeter, which paid off till the ultimate minutes. UCLA shot 9-for-20 from 3-point vary.

Utah: The Utes’ persistent turnovers sapped offensive momentum at a number of junctures. Utah dedicated 16 turnovers, resulting in 17 factors for the Bruins.

UP NEXT

UCLA: Hosts Arizona on Friday.

Utah: Visits Oregon State on Friday.

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