LOS ANGELES -- Pacific kept it close in the first half against the No. 9 UCLA women.Then the Bruins clamped down defensively in the third quarter when they shot 68 percent on their way to an 82-55 season-opening victory Friday night.Monique Billings had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Jordin Canada just missed a triple-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Bruins. Oklahoma transfer Nicole Kornet had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Kennedy Burke added 10 points.The good news is we sort of had a maturity about we have to grind this out, UCLA coach Cori Close said. If youre going to have a bad shooting night, you have to rely on your defense.UCLA forced 16 steals and blocked 12 shots, led by Billings with five.Desire Finnie led Pacific with 17 points and GeAnna Luaulu-Summers added 14 points, making all six of her free throws. She had five of the Tigers 26 turnovers, which led to 25 points by the Bruins. They had 21 turnovers.It was frustrating, Luaulu-Summers said. We couldnt get a bucket. Our turnovers really killed us.UCLA rallied to take a 38-32 lead at halftime after starting the game 8 of 23 from the floor.The Tigers got to 42-38 early in the third on a 3-pointer by Jessica Blakeslee.Thats when UCLA took over. The Bruins shot 68 percent from the floor and outscored the Tigers 33-12 in the period.We got punched in the mouth and it was time for us to punch back, Billings said.She and Canada had six points each in a 28-6 run that closed the third. The Bruins defense stepped up, too, limiting the Tigers to 29 percent shooting while getting nine stops in a row.They did a good job of rebounding the ball and we got a little bit undisciplined with what we were doing, Tigers coach Bradley Davis said. They did turn it on there in the third.It was the second blowout of a Tigers team in the same night. Earlier, the No. 16 UCLA men routed Pacific 119-80 in their season opener.BIG PICTUREPacific: Last season, the Tigers opponents averaged 18.2 points in the third quarter. The Bruins upped that number considerably.UCLA: It was the Bruins 400th home victory in program history. Theyve recorded 363 at Pauley Pavilion and 37 in the John R. Wooden Center. Close needs one win to reach 100 starting her sixth season.SECRET WEAPONBurke played in all 35 games last season as a freshman, averaging 5.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.She did a little bit of everything against the Tigers, hitting a 3-pointer, making 3 of 4 free throws, getting two rebounds and three assists.We used to call her the secret weapon, Billings said. She comes in and brings so much energy and a spark.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Bruins are starting the season with their highest ranking since they were sixth to begin the 1999 season.UP NEXTPacific: Host UC Merced on Sunday.UCLA: Visit second-ranked Baylor on Monday in an early season showdown. Samuel Morin Jersey . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Robert Hagg Flyers Jersey .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? 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Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Melbourne star Jack Viney has never been shy about his leadership ambitions, but he believes his AFL apprenticeship still has at least two years to run.Viney, 22, is the vice-captain to skipper Nathan Jones and the heir apparent for the role with the up-and-coming Demons.Jones will turn 29 in January, but Viney doesnt see a leadership transition happening any time soon.Hes done a terrific job as captain and hes still learning and becoming an even better leader every year, Viney told AAP.I think hes definitely got a couple more years left in him at least.The combative on-baller enhanced his leadership credentials in September with his first best and fairest award, the Keith Bluey Truscott Trophy.Viney, however, feels like hes still got a lot to learn.I want to be seen as someone who lives the trademarks and the values our club upholds, he said.For my peers to see me as someone who does that would be very humbling ... it means a lot to me.But I still feel like Im llearning about leadership, what makes a great leader, and I feel like Im getting better at that.ddddddddddddIm just on the journey at the moment and really enjoying it.Viney underwent hip surgery two days after Melbournes season ended and has started his pre-season campaign on a modified program.But hes already about a week ahead of schedule in his recovery and expects to join the main group in early December.The Demons are only weeks into new coach Simon Goodwins tenure, but Viney can already sense a difference from the past three years under Paul Roos.Were definitely still on the same path that weve been going down for the past few years but it does feel like a bit of a new era under Goodi, he said.Hes a different coach to Roosy and I cant wait to have a full pre-season with him to see how he directs the group and the football club. 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