Billings helps No. 11 UCLA women beat Seton Hall 77-68

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Monique Billings scored 17 points and Kelli Hayes added 15 to help No. 11 UCLA beat pesky Seton Hall 77-68 on Sunday.

The Bruins were the highest-ranked team to play at Seton Hall since coach Tony Bozzella took over in 2013. Top-ranked teams were common place when the Pirates were a member of the old Big East that featured UConn and Notre Dame.

In front of a raucous crowd, the Pirates (7-3) hung with their Top 25 opponent behind Donnaizha Fountain and Nicole Jiminez. Both had career highs with Fountain finishing with 23 and Jiminez 20. The backup point guard Jiminez's previous best was eight.

Every time UCLA (8-2) tried to pull away, the Pirates responded. Seton Hall got within 69-64 on Fountain's jumper with 4:33 left, but could get no closer.

UCLA scored the first six points and led 15-4 after seven minutes. Billings didn't start the game, entering a few minutes in. The Bruins led by double digits for most of the opening 20 minutes and were up 37-25 before Seton Hall closed the half with a 7-2 run to get within 39-32.

WELCOME: UCLA guard Japreece Dean, who transferred from Texas Tech last year, saw her first action of the season. She sat out the first nine games because of NCAA transfer rules. She had eight points in 18 minutes.

MISSING IN ACTION: Seton Hall was missing guard Inja Buttina for the second straight game after breaking her nose against Rutgers.

UP NEXT

UCLA plays at Fordham on Wednesday to close out the two-game Tri-State area swing.

Seton Hall hosts Fairfield on Thursday.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.