No. 2 UCLA Defeats No. 15 Indiana, 14-8

SOCIAL MEDIA: WWP on Twitter | WWP on Facebook | WWP on Instagram

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- No. 2 UCLA (9-2, 7-2 MPSF) got off to a hot shot on offense and defense to defeat No. 15 Indiana (8-11, 0-7 MPSF), 14-8, on Monday afternoon at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center. With the win, the Bruins improved to 15-0 all-time against the Hoosiers.

Palmer led the Bruins with a game- and career-high five goals. Junior Val Ayala had a season-high three scores. Redshirt sophomore Georgia Phillips got the start in the cage and went the distance, recording 12 saves while allowing eight goals.

UCLA jumped out to a quick lead with Palmer setting up freshman Anneliese Miller for a power play goal (7:28). Then Palmer called her own number from the front court and put UCLA up 2-0 (6:54). After Phillips denied the Hoosiers on a penalty shot, Palmer scored again on a power play (5:28) to make it 3-0 Bruins. Lanna Debow scored for Indiana (4:55) to cut the lead to 3-1. But after another penalty shot denial by Phillips, Ayala found the back of the cage on a power play (2:55) to push the lead to 4-1. Junior Bella Baia ended the scoring in the first period (0:15) when she took a feed from freshman Malia Allen to extend the lead to 5-1.

Zoe Crouch opened the scoring for Indiana (7:08) in the second period and Tina Doherty followed with a goal (6:16) to cut the Bruins' lead to 5-3. Junior Ava Johnson then took a feed from junior Katrina Drake and scored from two meters (3:52) to end the scoring drought and IU's mini-scoring run to make it 6-3. Indiana would win the second quarter, 2-1, as UCLA had four shots bar-out, leaving the Bruins holding a 6-3 advantage at the break.

Indiana came out hot in the third period, scoring twice (5:43 and 5:06) to make it a one-goal game at 6-5. Then the flood gates opened and both teams started a steady stream of scoring. Ayala scored a power play goal (4:35), then Palmer scored back-to-back at even strength (2:57 and 2:09). Hill added a power play goal (1:22) and Ayala completed her hat trick (0:54) to end the scoring in the period. When the dust had settled, the Bruins had built an 11-8 lead heading into the fourth period.

Johnson opened the scoring in the fourth for UCLA with another goal at set (7:28) and Palmer followed up with a penalty shot conversion (7:02) to push the lead to 13-8. Hill then set up Liebowitz for her first score of the game (3:24) to extend the lead to 14-8, providing the final score.

Mary Askew registered 10 saves for the Hoosiers, who were led by Debow's hat trick.

The Bruins return to action tomorrow when they concluded their four-game road trip in four days with another battle at No. 15 Indiana at 8:00 a.m. PDT.

No. 2 UCLA at No. 15 Indiana (MPSF Game - Game 11)

6x5 - UCLA - 5/12 - IU - 0/7
Penalties - UCLA - 1/2 - IU - 1/3

UCLA Goals: Hannah Palmer 5, Val Ayala 3, Ava Johnson 2, Anneliese Miller 1, Abbi Hill 1, Bella Baia 1, Lexi Liebowitz 1
UCLA Saves: Georgia Phillips 12

IU Goals: Lanna Debow 3, Zoe Crouch 1, Izzy Mandema 1, Tina Doherty 1, Lexi Marissink 1, Sophie Wazzan 1
IU Saves: Mary Askew 10