LOS ANGELES (AP) - Charisma Osborne scored 28 points and No. 8 UCLA withstood a smart play by No. 25 Washington State that forced overtime for a 68-66 victory Sunday.
Osborne had 11 points in overtime as UCLA (8-2, 6-2 Pac-12) won its third in a row. The Bruins improved to 33-0 overall at home against Washington State.
Before overtime started, Osborne got encouragement from teammate Lauryn Miller to keep shooting.
“I definitely think I’m confident in taking those shots but if my shot isn’t falling before that I get a little hesitant. So just having that little reminder that I practice those shots all the time and I have confidence to make those,” Osborne said. “I think that just helped me.”
Osborne made 10 of 25 shots, including four 3-pointers.
The Cougars trailed 53-50 with 2 seconds left in regulation when star Charlisse Leger-Walker was fouled. She made the first free throw, missed the second on purpose and her sister, Krystal Leger-Walker, got the rebound and hit a layup to send the game into OT.
UCLA coach Cori Close liked the odds of not giving up a 3-pointer to tie the game and boxing out for the offensive rebound on a missed free throw. It didn’t work out, but Osborne took over in overtime.
“Obviously, she saved the day for us in overtime,” Close said.
Charlisse Leger-Walker led the Cougars (7-2, 5-2) with 18 points.
Washington State took its first lead on Charlisse Leger-Walker’s layup with 1:21 left in regulation. She was fouled on the play and missed the free throw.
Osborne made a 3-pointer from the top of the arc on the next possession to put UCLA up 52-50 with 1:03 left. With 2.3 seconds left, Michaela Onyenwere made one of two free throws.
Camryn Brown, who comes off the bench for the Bruins, made a nice play as she stole the ball and went coast-to-coast, dribbling past three defenders and scoring on a layup to give UCLA a 22-13 lead in the second quarter. The Bruins went on a 8-1 run to go into halftime with a 32-21 lead.
Center Bella Murekatete was dominant in the first quarter for the Cougars with three consecutive baskets to pull Washington State within 11-6. She picked up her second foul early in the second quarter and went to the bench after that, negating the Cougars’ advantage inside. She finished with 14 points.
BIG PICTURE
Washington State: The Cougars had an emotional overtime win over then No. 7 Arizona followed by consecutive losses to USC and UCLA on the road. Plenty of lessons to be learned on film, especially defensively, which can only help come March.
UCLA: The Bruins had a lackluster fourth quarter, which caused the game to go into overtime, but made plays in overtime and wind up with the win.
OVERTIME DRIVE
The Cougars have played three consecutive overtime games, losing two of them, both in Los Angeles.
“It’s never fun to come this close and lose,” Washington State coach Kamie Ethridge said. “We’ve had a lot of these … I continue to be amazed at this team’s resiliency and fight and competitiveness, and to be able to defend at such a high level.”
UP NEXT
Washington State: Plays Friday at No. 10 Oregon, making it the third time in the last four games the Cougars have faced a top 10 opponent.
UCLA: Plays Friday at No. 1 Stanford, which lost to unranked Colorado in OT on Sunday.
___
More AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.