No. 14 IU Falls In MPSF Opener To No. 1 UCLA

Saturday, March 2

Bloomington, Ind.

11:00 A.M. ET

Indiana University

0-0

#1 UCLA

0-0

UCLA (W)

Indiana (W)

BLOOMINGTON, IN - March 2, 2024 - attacker Louisa Downes #25 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the match between the UCLA Bruins and the Indiana Hoosiers at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Gretta Cohoon/Indiana Athletics

3/2/2024 1:20:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score Photo Gallery

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 14 Indiana battled until the end but came up short to No. 1 UCLA at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in the MPSF opener on Saturday.

KEY MOMENTS

UCLA (15-0, 2-0 MPSF) scored four unanswered goals to start the game off before Indiana could find the back of the net on a goal with 3:08 remaining by sophomore Louisa Downes. The Hoosiers (14-3, 0-1 MPSF) faced a 6-1 deficit after one and didn't get on the board in the second as the Bruins led 10-1 at the break.
In the second half, IU outscored UCLA, 8-3, including five goals in the third alone. Juniors Sophia Sollie and Skylar Kidd went back-to-back midway through the frame to make it 10-3. The duo each added another goal in the third as sophomore Grace Klinger capitalized on a late 6-on-5 opportunity to bring IU within six, 12-6.
In the fourth, sophomore Nicole Tyner put one in the back of the cage and Kidd completed her hat trick with 2:40 remaining. The Hoosiers never let up as Downes added another with 1:02 to go in the game.

NOTES

Sophomore goalie Jasmine Higgs tied a career-high 14 saves.
Kidd recorded a hat trick for the Hoosiers, leading the way with three goals. Downes and Sollie finished with two goals each while Tyner and Klingler each had one.
Senior Kallie White and junior Portia Sasser led the way with two assists each.
White picked up three of Indiana's eight steals.

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers play in its final non-conference tournament of the season when it travels to the Aztec Invite hosted by San Diego State on Mar. 9-10.

For all the latest on Indiana University women's water polo, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaWPolo on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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