LOS ANGELES – Markel Walker had 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead five players in double figures, and No. 19 UCLA routed Loyola Marymount 86-66 on Sunday.
Alyssia Brewer had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Kacy Swain added 14 points for the Bruins (4-1), who had a season-high 55 rebounds and were 22 of 25 from the free throw line. Atonye Nyingifa made all 10 of her free throws, where she scored all of her points. Nirra Fields added 10 points.
Hazel Ramirez was the only player in double figures for the Lions (5-4) with 17 points. They remained winless in three road games and fell to 0-9 all-time against the Bruins. LMU's leading scorer Alex Cowling had nine points and 10 rebounds.
With Walker, Brewer and Corinne Costa standing 6-foot-1 or better, the Bruins held a decided advantage in the paint and it helped them outscore the Lions, 44-24. When Walker wasn't scoring, she helped feed UCLA's fastbreak and grabbed loose balls.
The Lions struggled to get closer than 18 points early in the second half. UCLA quickly stretched its lead to 26 points on a 3-pointer by Thea Lemberger and her layup with 5 ½ minutes to go provided its largest lead of 27. Walker sat down with 9:19 remaining and Brewer left a few minutes later.
UCLA broke open a close game early with a 29-9 run in the first half. Fields and Swain scored six points each, Walker added five and Nyingifa four, getting fastbreak baskets and pulling down 20 defensive rebounds. The Lions, who tossed up several airballs, ran off seven straight before Walker scored UCLA's final five points to send the Bruins into halftime leading 45-27.
Both coaching staffs went barefoot to raise awareness of children around the world who don't have shoes. UCLA's cheerleaders removed their shoes for one routine.
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