Saturday, Nov. 20 7:00pm ET
Bruins survive Tar Heel rally
 
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LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- UCLA coach Kathy Oliver was able to joke about the Bruins' second-half struggles against North Carolina.

"We tried to keep it lively for the crowd," UCLA coach Kathy Oliver said after No. 4 UCLA blew a 16-point halftime lead in its 69-65 victory over No. 8 North Carolina on Saturday night in the opening game of the Four in the Fall Classic.

"North Carolina did a better job in the second half. They took away our transition game, and we kind of lost our patience. But we survived it."

North Carolina trailed 45-29 at the half and never led until back-to-back 3-pointers by Juana Brown and Leah Sharp capped a 30-12 run and put the Tar Heels ahead 65-63 with 2:29 to play.

But North Carolina never scored again.

UCLA's Carly Funicello missed a jumper at 2:10, and Nikki Teasley grabbed the rebound for the Tar Heels, but she turned the ball over 30 seconds later, and LaCresha Flannigan's 3-pointer at the 1:21 mark gave UCLA the lead again at 66-65.

Brown missed two 3-pointers in the final minute, and North Carolina had to foul in desperation.

Nicole Kaczmarski's two free throws with 19 seconds left made it 68-65, and Mayla Martin grabbed the rebound after Brown's attempt to tie it with a 3-pointer with five seconds left missed. Martin made one of two free throws with one second left.

Flannigan led UCLA with 14 points. Marie Philman added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Martin added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Brown led North Carolina with 16 points.

No. 23 Texas Tech beat No. 14 LSU 56-49 in the second game of the doubleheader, played in the new United Spirit Arena.
 


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