Help wanted: starters
The UCLA women’s basketball team has shuffled its lineup
this season many times thus far. With senior guard Michelle
Greco’s decision to sit out the season, the Bruins have
witnessed five different starting rotations split among nine
different players. And with senior center Shalada Allen’s
one-game suspension for fighting, the team will see a seventh
different lineup next game.
Yet head coach Kathy Olivier is not that concerned, as long as
the team works hard to play well together. “We just really
need to put the effort out there,” she said.
Home-court disadvantage
Before Sunday’s loss to USC, the the Bruins averaged an
attendance of about 1,086 people per game at Pauley Pavilion.
However, the rivalry pulled in 5,331 fans to watch the game. Few
UCLA students were among the fans. In fact, the majority in
attendance were non-students, mostly elementary students
participating in the “I’m going to college”
program.
The Bruins feel that they play better at home, as long as they
have the fans to supporting them. In their six home games, they are
2-4.
Playing with new faces
With Greco sitting out and junior forward Kristee Porter leaving
school in pursuit of her professional volleyball career, the Bruins
are looking for athletes. Tryouts are not taking place, but until
UCLA’s highly anticipated 2002-03 freshman class comes to
Westwood, the team has been searching on campus.
Freshman volleyball player Brittany Ringel has practiced with
the team since Jan. 8 and has walked onto the team. At 6-foot-1,
she was the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Player of the Year in
basketball in 2000.
Pac-10 notes
No. 4 Stanford remains at the top of the Pac-10 this week.
Perfect in conference play at 5-0, the Cardinal continues to show
the nation the prowess they hold in the West. … UCLA looks to
stay out of last place, but it doesn’t look that difficult.
With California (5-9, 0-5 Pac-10) and Washington State (2-14, 0-6)
fighting it out for worst team, the Bruins will be able to hold
their own in the middle of the conference. … With the recent loss
to USC, the Bruins are another loss away from giving the Trojans 10
points toward the Lexus Cup. UCLA basketball, both men and women,
is 0-2 against USC this season. “I wish it was going on last
year,” Olivier said. The Bruins split the series with the
Trojans in the 2000-01 season. … UCLA leads the conference in
steals per game, with an average of 10.5. This intense defense,
though, is a result of their second-half comebacks, which have
fallen short in all of the Bruins’ 10 losses.
Notes compiled by Adam Titcher, Daily Bruin Contributor.