Bruins and Trojans Are Both Winners

Melanie Pearson scored 26 points, including 10 in overtime, to lead UCLA to a 96-93 victory over Rutgers in the Pac-10/Big East Challenge before 725 at Pauley Pavilion.

Pearson dominated the extra period, scoring eight of UCLA’s first 10 points, including two three-pointers that made it 84-79. Two free throws by Tawana Grimes with 11 seconds to play gave the Bruins a three-point cushion.

With a minute to play in the second half, Rutgers led, 74-70, until a Maylana Martin layup and two free throws by Tawana Grimes tied the score at 74-74. Rutgers had a chace to win in regulation, but freshman guard Natasha Pointer missed two free throws with 22 second to play.

Pointer led all players with 33 points and 12 rebounds.

Martin had 24 points and eight rebounds, while Janae Hubbard added 18 points and 11 rebounds for UCLA.

In another tournament game, Kristin Clark scored a career-high 30 points and had six steals as USC defeated Seton Hall, 78-66.

The Trojans led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but the Pirates battled back to take a 53-50 lead with a little less than 10 minutes to play. Clark then was fouled after a basket and made her free throw to tie the score, and a layup by Adria Sneed with 7:45 left put USC ahead for good.

The Bruins today (4-4) will play Seton Hall (2-6), and the Trojans (5-3) will play Rutgers (4-4).