Onyenwere scores 31, helps No. 10 UCLA beat Washington in OT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michaela Onyenwere scored a career-high 31 points and No. 10 UCLA used an 8-1 run in overtime to seize control and beat Washington 85-80 on Friday night.

Natalie Chou added 18 points off the bench for the Bruins (17-1, 6-1 Pac-12), who got back on track after losing its first game of the season to USC. UCLA was the only unbeaten team in the country.

The game was tied 70-all after regulation and the Bruins sprinted to a 78-71 lead in the overtime.

Amber Melgoza had 14 points and Missy Peterson added 13 for Washington (10-8, 2-5), which played well but squandered a 15-point, second-quarter lead.

Onyenwere, who missed the loss to USC due to a sprained ankle, shot 13 of 26 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line.

Chou came up big down the stretch. She made a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left from the baseline to give UCLA a 69-68 lead and added a steal with 11 seconds remaining. Onyenwere made one of two free throws for a 70-68 lead, but Melgoza, fouled with 4 seconds left, made both free throws, tying the game and forcing OT.

Onyenwere put UCLA ahead at 49-47 near the end of the third quarter. She scored off a nice bounce pass from Japreece Dean, who drove the lane and the trailing Onyenwere.

Onyenwere made it 51-47 with 1 second left in the third when she got a rebound off her own miss and scored on a putback.

To start the third quarter, Onyenwere got UCLA off to a good start with a three-point play that seemed to energize the Bruins, pulling them within seven points, 37-30.

UCLA finished the third quarter with an 8-0 run and a four-point lead. The Bruins made 12 of 22 shots and were a much-improved 54.5% from the field in that span.

UCLA missed 17 of 22 shots (22.7%) and trailed 22-11 after the first quarter, looking rusty after a week off. The Huskies went on an 8-0 run at the end of the first and built an 11-point lead.

Near the end of the first quarter, UCLA coach Cori Close called a timeout and immediately afterward shrugged her shoulders.

Washington led 35-25 at halftime.

Dean struggled from the field, shooting 1 for 8 in the first half, and missing all five 3-point attempts. UCLA was 2 for 17 from behind the arc in the first half. Dean finished with 14 points.

Dean made a jump shot off an inbounds pass with five minutes left in the third quarter that sparked some confidence. She made her next shot, too, a running jumper through the lane.

BIG PICTURE

WASHINGTON: The Huskies are playing much better on the road in conference this season — winning three of their last five games after going winless in their previous 17, dating to the last two seasons.

UCLA: After winning their first 16 games and setting a school record for victories to start a season, the Bruins have shown there’s plenty of work to do, including finding their collective shot. But, they found a way to win.

UP NEXT

WASHINGTON: At USC on Sunday.

UCLA: Hosts Washington State on Sunday.