Hilbert Gets the Bruins Off on Right Foot in Pac-10 Play

Junior guard Nickey Hilbert’s career-high 27 points powered UCLA past Washington State, 85-75, in a Pacific 10 Conference women’s basketball opener Friday night before 350 at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins (6-4) made 10 of their first 13 shots to take a 23-9 lead with 12:55 to go in the first half.

UCLA center Kisa Hughes had 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Jenni Ruffs led Washington State (8-3) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. The Cougars had a winning streak ended at seven games.

Washington 69, USC 67--The Huskies (7-5) used a late surge and freshman Jamie Redd’s 15 points to beat the Trojans (5-5) in a Pacific 10 opener at the Lyon Center.

The game was tied at 62-62 with 2:57 remaining before Washington’s Laure Savasta made a pair of free throws and a jumper to put the Huskies ahead for good.

The Trojans had led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but trailed, 33-27, at halftime.

Tina Thompson led USC with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

*

Notes

Long Beach State suspended senior guard Akia Hardy for three games for violating team rules, Coach Dallas Boychuck said. Boychuck would not elaborate on the violations. Hardy, a graduate of Lakewood High School, had started 56 consecutive games and leads the 49ers in scoring (13.9 points per game) and assists (7.7) this season.