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Historic Night from Osborne Lifts UCLA over Oklahoma to Advance to Sweet 16, 82-73

by uclabruins.com
Mar 21, 2023

LOS ANGELES – UCLA Women's Basketball (27-9, 11-7 Pac-12) caught fire in the fourth quarter to eliminate No. 5-seed Oklahoma from the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Bruins put up 29 of their 82 points in the final frame, holding off the Sooners despite their early second-half comeback attempt.
 
Charisma Osborne had a career-high 36 points in the second-round game, shooting a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe. Osborne tied a career high in free throws made, all of which came in the second half, and her 11 made field goals ties a career high.
 
The senior's scoring night marked the highest points scored by a Bruin in postseason history; Osborne also claimed the single-game high for points scored during a 2023 tournament game.
 
UCLA shot a scorching 21-for-23 from the free throw line in the final frame; Kiki Rice and Osborne put in 16 of their 17 attempts in the fourth. The Bruins outrebounded the Sooners 35-28 in the game, holding a plus-two advantage on the offensive glass.
 
UCLA had a slight advantage in the turnover battle; the Bruins swiped six steals to Oklahoma's five. Gabriela Jaquez had three of those in her 18 minutes of play.
 
The Bruin defense gave UCLA an early lead; Oklahoma was held to 5-for-14 in the first quarter. The Sooners had 8 turnovers in the period. Gina Conti provided an early veteran spark, connecting on a three off a Lina Sontag assist. Conti paid the German back as Sontag nailed a corner three-point jump shot.
 

 
Conti had five points and three assists in the first.
 
Osborne ignited the Bruin offense and had a 12-point quarter in the second; the senior shot 5-for-7 and grabbed four rebounds without fouling or subbing out. UCLA outscored the Sooners 20-14 in the period and the Bruins led 41-28 heading into the half.
 
The Sooners had an avalanche of scoring in the third, going on an 18-2 run during the quarter. Oklahoma outscored UCLA 26-12 in the quarter and took their first lead of the game during the period, but Osborne would not let the Bruins go down too far.
 
The 5-foot-9 shooting guard found a driving lane and converted a lay-up through contact, drawing a shooting foul on the attempt. The senior converted her and-one free throw to bring the Bruins within one, and UCLA trailed 53-54 heading into the fourth.
 

 
The Bruins answered the call in the fourth; UCLA was +10 in the quarter. Londynn Jones made the first basket of the period, putting the Bruins up by one, and UCLA would not look back. Osborne had 13 points while only shooting two field goal attempts (1-for-2 FG); six Bruins got on the board to help seal the nine-point victory to advance to the Sweet 16.
 
UP NEXT: vs. No. 1 South Carolina (Mar. 25)
 
The Bruins get a rematch against the No. 1 Gamecocks on Saturday, Mar. 25, at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT in Greenville, South Carolina. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
 

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