March 13, 1998

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Maylana Martin scored 16 points and Melanie Pearson added 15 on Friday to lead No. 23 UCLA to a 65-58 victory over Michigan in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament Midwest Regional.

UCLA (20-8), which opened a 13-point first-half lead and led 33-23 at the half, seemed on its way to an easy win.

But 10th-seeded Michigan (19-10) held the Bruins scoreless for more than seven minutes and used a 12-4 run to cut the score to 37-35 with 11:47 to go.

Erica Gomez ended UCLA's drought with a 3-pointer at 11:21 and the Bruins reeled off 11 straight points to open a 48-35 lead.

Michigan, which was able to hold UCLA well below its 80.7 scoring average, got no closer than 62-58 with 23 seconds to go. The Wolverines were plagued by 30 turnovers and 38 percent shooting.

Stacey Thomas led Michigan with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Molly Murray scored 13 for the Wolverines and Pollyanna Johns had a game-high 14 rebounds.