Blue Pulls Bruins Out of Their Funk

Nikki Blue is five games into her UCLA career, and she’s already showing why she was one of the most highly touted recruits.

On a night when the Bruins looked listless, Blue scored all of her 24 points in the second half, including the Bruins’ last nine to lift UCLA to a 72-60 victory over St. Mary’s before 728 Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion.

The freshman guard made nine of 11 shots in the second half after missing all three shots in the first half. The 24 points matched her season high against Cal State Sacramento.

“I try to let the game come to me,” said Blue, who also four rebounds and six turnovers. “But I don’t like sitting on the bench. And I know if I didn’t step up I would have been sitting on the bench.”

Julia Pitts, another touted freshman, had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Bruins (4-1).

Triola Jackson had 18 for the Gaels (2-3).

Appearing fatigued by a weekend tournament in Las Vegas, the sluggish Bruins made nine of 32 shots in the first half (28.1%), and missed all six of their three-point attempts.

St. Mary’s didn’t take full advantage though, making 12 of 33 shots (36.4%). The Gaels did make five three-pointers for a 32-23 halftime lead.

-- Mike Terry

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In top 25 games: Erin Thorn scored 24 points on eight three-pointers to lead No. 19 Brigham Young (4-0) to a 75-44 victory over Southern Utah (2-1) at Cedar City, Utah.... Jocelyn Penn had 26 points and 11 rebounds as to lead No. 23 South Carolina (5-0) to a 75-54 victory over Georgia Southern (3-2) at Columbia, S.C.