Thursday, January 30, 1997
If only points were rebounds
If points were rebounds, the Bruins would be 13-3. UCLA has
outrebounded 13 of 16 opponents this year. The average margin has
been five more per game.
Permanent
fixtures
Juniors Tawana Grimes and Aisha Veasley have both gone their
entire Bruin careers without missing a game. Freshmen Takiyah
Jackson, Maylana Martin and Carly Funicello have started every UCLA
game in their careers thus far.
Turnovers are plentiful
UCLA has forced at least 20 turnovers in 15 of 16 games and at
least 30 twice. But in only four games did the Bruins fail to turn
it over at least 20 times themselves. On the season, the Bruin
starters alone average 18 turnovers per game.
Four freshman starters could be a first
For the first time in 16 years, the Bruins are consistently
starting three freshman. If head coach Kathy Olivier continues to
start Melanie Pearson with Jackson, Funicello and Martin, it would
mark the first time in UCLA history four freshmen have started
consistently throughout the season.
Racking up wins in the Southland
Though the Bruins have lost two of their last three games at
Pauley Pavilion, the confines of Southern California have been much
kinder than those courts outside of the area. The squad is 1-5
outside of the region and 7-3 inside, including two wins at the Los
Angeles Sports Arena. The overall road record for UCLA is 3-5,
which is already better than last year’s 2-10 finish.
Shooting for free
Of those Bruins with at least 10 free throws attempted, Grimes
(75.6 percent), Jackson (75 percent) and Martin (73.6 percent) are
the only players on the team averaging over 60 percent from the
line. All three are in the top eight in the conference. UCLA, as a
team, is fourth in the Pacific 10 at 64.8 percent from the
line.
Better to take than to give?
UCLA has averaged 16 steals in its last four games. While the
Bruins rank third in the Pac-10 in steals per game with 12.8, they
are 10th in the conference with only 12 assists per game.
Compiled by A. CinQue Carter, Daily Bruin Contributor.