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Osborne, Bessoir Post Career Games in Win over UC Riverside

by uclabruins.com
Nov 10, 2022

LOS ANGELES – UCLA Women's Basketball improves to 2-0 behind strong performances from senior Charisma Osborne and redshirt-sophomore Emily Bessoir in the team's 64-43 win over UC Riverside (0-2) Thursday afternoon. Thursday's matchup was designated as UCLA's annual Field Trip Day with local schools in attendance for the day game.
 
Osborne recorded her first double-double of the season, the ninth of her UCLA career, pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds in the game. Bessoir poured in a career-high 16 points to lead the Bruins in scoring for the first time in her collegiate career. The German forward had a 50/40/90 game (5-9 FG, 2-5 3PT, 4-4 FT) to help lift the Bruins over the Highlanders
 
Freshman Gabriela Jaquez made her first collegiate start and contributed nine points to UCLA's efforts. Jaquez grabbed six boards for the second-consecutive game, showing consistency and hustle in her rebounding ability. Graduate transfer Gina Conti also made her first appearance in a Bruin uniform, seeing 17 minutes of playing time in her return to the hardwood.
 
The Bruins got off to a slow start to the game, scoring just 10 points in the first quarter, but were determined to stay ahead of the Highlanders. Both UCLA and UC Riverside had six turnovers in the first frame of play and headed into the second with the Bruins ahead by three points.
 
UCLA saw more life in its offense during the second quarter and made an effort to get to the free throw line. The Bruins were 6-for-7 from the charity stripe in the period. Freshman Londynn Jones made her first bucket in a Bruin uniform with a difficult Euro step layup on a drive to the lane, putting the Bruins up 20-9 with just under five minutes left to play in the half.
 

 
UC Riverside answered back with two quick buckets to cut UCLA's lead to six. After trading buckets late in the quarter, freshman Kiki Rice blocked a Highlander three-point attempt with fewer than 10 seconds left in the period. Osborne grabbed the rebound and was off to the races, putting in a fast break layup to end the quarter. UCLA led 26-18 going into halftime.

The Bruins came out of the midway break and began to find an offensive rhythm. Osborne knocked down a midrange jumper from the short corner off an out-of-bounds play designed for her early in the quarter and started to heat up. Osborne was 3-for-5 in the quarter (2-for-2 FT), scoring eight of UCLA's 25 points in the frame. Bessoir added six points in the quarter on consecutive three-point shots to help UCLA pad its lead. After Bessoir's second-consecutive triple, UCLA led 47-24. The Bruins went 7-for-7 from the charity stripe in the third while not allowing a single free throw from the visiting Highlanders.
 

 
The Bruins cooled off in the fourth, shooting 5-for-17 in the final period. The team combined for three steals and a block in the last quarter to stifle UC Riverside's attempt at a comeback. Rice threw a one-handed bounce pass to Conti on the break for an easy lay-in during the final two minutes of play, putting the Bruins up 62-41. UCLA would hold on to the 21-point lead and finish with the same margin of victory.
 

UP NEXT: UCLA vs. Troy (Nov. 13)
 
UCLA women's basketball returns to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom at 2 p.m. on Sunday to face off against Troy in the final game of its three-game season-opening homestand. Sunday's matinee will be the first-ever meeting between the universities.
 
UCLA heads off to the Bahamas to participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament Nov. 19-21 after Sunday's game.
 

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