PULLMAN, Wash. – Jasmine Dixon and Darxia Morris each scored 12 points to help No. 8 UCLA beat error-prone Washington State 80-55 on Sunday.
UCLA (12-1, 2-0 Pac-10) has won 21 straight in the series since 2001.
Washington State (2-12, 0-2) has lost six consecutive games, but stayed close in the first half until poor shooting took a toll. Freshman Ireti Amojo was the only Cougar in double figures with 13 points.
The Bruins lead the nation in steals — averaging 15 — and they got 18 against the Cougars, who committed 28 turnovers. The Bruins also had a big edge in free throws, making 28 of 35. Washington State was just 5 of 13 from the line.
The Bruins shot 56 percent in the game, while Washington State managed just 41 percent and went several long stretches without a basket.
Neither team shot well early, and Doreena Campbell had a basket and six free throws to put UCLA ahead 10-7. Consecutive 3-pointers by Amojo allowed Washington State to tie the score at 14. But Morris replied with two straight baskets to give the Bruins an 18-14 lead they did not relinquish.
Washington State sank only two field goals in the final nine minutes of the half to trail 32-23 at halftime. The Bruins shot 50 percent in the first, while Cougars shot just 32 percent and committed 16 turnovers.
The Bruins went on a 15-2 run to open the second half, for a 47-25 lead, and the Cougars could not make up the ground.
The Bruins' only loss was to Louisiana State last week.
UCLA leads the all-time series 44-6.
Washington State has not beaten a ranked opponent since topping No. 22 Arizona in 2001.