UCLA Women's Water Polo Cruises Past the Hoosiers, 14-8
The Bruins nearly doubled up Indiana yesterday and will play them again today.
The UCLA women’s water polo team crushed the Indiana Hoosiers, 14-8, yesterday. Now, the Bruins will wrap up their eight-game road trip this morning when they play their fourth game in as many days. Game time is scheduled for 8 am PT.
Last Time Out
The Bruins began yesterday’s game with the a flurry of three goals, including one from Anneliese Miller and two from Hannah Palmer. After Indiana finally got on the scoreboard, Val Ayala and Bella Baia added two more to give UCLA a 5-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Hoosiers cut the Bruins’ lead to two on a pair of consecutive goals, but Ava Johnson stretched it back to three with the final goal of the first half and UCLA led 6-3 at the break.
The third quarter saw an offensive explosion from both teams. Indiana managed to pull within one by scoring consecutive goals to begin the outburst, but UCLA bounced right back with consecutive goals of their own from Ayala and Palmer. That gave Palmer a hat trick for the day and she wasn’t close to being done yet. Palmer’s fourth goal of the game followed another Hoosier goal while Abbi Hill added a power play goal for the Bruins with 1:22 left. Ayala finished UCLA’s barrage with her third of the game and each team managed to net five goals a piece during the third quarter. After three, UCLA still led by three, 11-8.
In the final eight minutes, the Bruins were able to hold Indiana scoreless while adding insurance goals from Johnson, Palmer, and Lexi Liebowitz. Palmer’s goal came on a penalty shot and was her fifth of the game while Johnson’s was her second. That gave UCLA a 14-8 victory.
Interestingly, Indiana’s website considered that a “close contest.” I’m not really sure how nearly doubling an opponent’s score qualifies as a “close contest.” I guess when your program expects to lose by double digits and you keep it to single digits, you call can call it a “close contest,” even if you almost get doubled up.
Look for a similar “close contest” this morning.
#2 UCLA Women’s Water Polo (9-2, 7-2)
Opponent: #15 Indiana Hoosiers (8-11, 0-7)
When: 8:00 am PT, Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Where: Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center, Bloomington, IN
TV: None
Live Stream: BTN+ and the BTN+ app
Live Stats: TheFosh.net
Go Bruins!!!
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