WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : UCLA Loses to Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt’s Sheri Sam scored 23 points Sunday as the fifth-ranked Commodores defeated UCLA, 70-64, in the Reebok Challenge at the FleetCenter.

Nickey Hilbert scored 25 points for UCLA (1-1) and Kisa Hughes contributed 12 points and six rebounds, but poor shooting and poor rebounding hurt the Bruins.

Vanderbilt outshot UCLA, 51% to 36%, and outrebounded the Bruins, 33-27. What kept the Bruins in the game were 37 turnovers by the Commodores (1-0).

Sam scored six points during an 8-2 run late in the game that turned a 54-52 lead into a 62-54 lead.

“They picked it up a notch in the second half and we weren’t able to respond,” UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier said.