UCLA's chances of defending its national title in women's golf took a turn for the worse when the top-ranked Bruins stumbled to an 18-over 306 Thursday in the third round of the NCAA championships and dropped into ninth place with one round to go.

UCLA, which began the day in second place, has a three-day total of 24-over 888 and trails leader Alabama by 11 shots heading into the final round. USC is two shots back with Purdue, South Carolina and Virgina tied for third at 883.

Ani Gulugian and Erynee Lee shot four-over 76 to pace the Bruins Thursday. Brianna Do and Lee Lopez each shot 77. Do is the top UCLA player in the individual race with a three-day total of four-over 220. She is tied for 17th place, eight strokes behind leaders Chirapat Jao-Javanil of Oklahoma and Giulia Molinaro of Arizona State.