Bilić's 41: UCLA's Croatian Recruit Shines Against Lithuania

On July 13, incoming UCLA freshman Lena Bilić dropped 41 points for Croatia in their U18 Euros bronze-medal win over Lithuania (88-83). Her line: 15-29 FG, 6-12 3PT, 5 REB, 7 AST, 4 STL. At 6’3”, Bilic showed true four-level scoring – threes, mid-range, at the rim, and drawing fouls. She showed off her deep bag of offensive attack moves and counters, and did a great job of taking what the defense gave her. Defensively, her length created 4 steals and disrupted Lithuania's perimeter. All tournament Bilić handled the ball effectively, scored/facilitated and played multiple positions, including point forward. Alongside Sienna Betts, Bilic gives UCLA another versatile, high-impact freshman that will help them compete for a conference and a national championship season.