UCLA women outlast Montana 55-47 to advance in NCAA Tournament

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UCLA women beat Montana 55-47 to advance in NCAA Tournament

SPOKANE, Wash. -- UCLA felt slighted by getting a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Bruins did very little in the first round to prove they belonged any higher.

Jasmine Dixon scored 15 points, including a key up-and-under basket with 56 seconds left, and the Bruins finally shook 14th-seeded Montana in the closing moments for a 55-47 victory Saturday.

UCLA's trapping pressure defense did its job, forcing the overmatched Lady Griz into 25 turnovers and long stretches without points. But every other part of UCLA's game was out of rhythm and sloppy. The Bruins (28-4) committed 19 turnovers, shot just 42 percent and leading scorer Darxia Morris finished with four points and five turnovers.

Montana, which won the Big Sky

UCLA's Markel Walker, left, wrestles the ball from Montana's Alyssa Smith during a full-court press as Rebekah Gardner looks on in the first half of their first round NCAA women's college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Conference tournament with three straight wins, was led by Alyssa Smith's 14 points. Montana (18-15) closed within 36-30 midway through the second half and 47-42 with 3:35 left but couldn't get any closer.

UCLA coach Nikki Caldwell talked Friday of how last year the team just enjoyed being back in the tournament for the first time since 2006. UCLA lost to Nebraska in the second round a year ago.

This year, it's about advancing past the first weekend, especially after feeling slighted by the selection committee and given a No. 3 seed when many believed the Bruins deserved a No. 2.

Getting to the regional semifinals won't be an easy task for the Bruins. They'll face No. 11 seed Gonzaga on Monday night on the Bulldogs' home floor in the second round. Gonzaga beat sixth-seeded Iowa 92-86 earlier Saturday.

Most of the 6,000 fans that crammed McCarthy Athletic Center to see the hometown team win didn't stick around for the back end of the doubleheader.

UCLA might be glad they didn't. The Bruins led 47-36 with 5 minutes left, only to see Montana close within 51-47 on Stephanie Stender's two free throws with 1:16 remaining.

Dixon then scored in the lane to push the lead back to six, then stole a pass in the backcourt and was fouled. She finally put the game out of reach by hitting one of two free throws. Dixon made four of nine shots and was 7 for 12 at the free throw line.

Rebekah Gardner and Doreena Campbell both finished with 11 points for the Bruins.

On many occasions, it looked as if the Bruins might be able to put away Montana and cruise to an expected easy victory.

UCLA pushed its lead to double figures for the first time right at the start of the second half and appeared ready to finally put away the Lady Griz, only to see Montana continually hang around. UCLA's lead was just 36-30 with less than 12 minutes remaining after Smith's third 3-pointer of the game and could have been closer if Montana had finished a few opportunities around the basket.

Atonye Nyingifa's two free throws pushed the lead to eight, Campbell hit a jumper from the wing and Gardner's two free throws gave UCLA its largest lead at 42-30. Montana refused to go away, putting a scare into the Bruins until the final minute.

Sarah Ena added nine points for Montana, but the Lady Griz could never recover from 19 turnovers in the first half and 33 percent shooting for the game. Leading scorer Katie Baker, who comes off the bench, finished with just six points. Montana went 7 minutes without a field goal in the first half, yet trailed only 26-17 at halftime.

Montana was making its 19th NCAA appearance but hasn't won in its last nine trips. The Lady Griz last won an NCAA tournament game in 1995 with an upset of San Diego State.

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