With four out of the five starting positions filled for this
year’s women’s basketball team, UCLA head coach Kathy
Olivier is in a quandary over the fifth and final starting
spot.
Olivier has narrowed down her decision for the power forward
position to sophomore Julia Pitts or sophomore Emma Tautolo.
“It’ll probably be Emma just because of
Julia’s knee, but I’ll make my decision in the next two
days,” Olivier said.
Pitts, who suffered two torn ligaments in her left knee last
year in a game against Baylor, is still optimistic about her
chances of earning the starting forward role.
“Coming into this year I wanted to come in and take my
starting position,” Pitts said. “But my knee
isn’t 100 percent yet, so I won’t be disappointed if I
don’t start.”
Though Pitts’ injury gives Tautolo the advantage, she
feels comfortable in any role Olivier gives her.
“I’d love to start,” Tautolo said.
“I’ve worked hard the entire off-season, but if I
don’t start, I’ll be ready to come off the bench and
contribute right away.”
Whether it be Pitts or Tautolo at forward, the Bruins’
starting lineup features an explosive backcourt.
Sophomore guard Nikki Blue, who was named to the All Pac-10
First Team last year, ranked sixth in Pac-10 in scoring with 16.6
ppg, 18th in rebounds with 5.5 rpg, seventh in assists with 3.4 apg
and fourth in steals with 2.33 spg.
Sophomore guard Lisa Willis was the fourth leading scorer for
the Bruins last season with 7.7 ppg. Willis finished second on
UCLA’s all-time single-season for three-pointers made with 46
converted from behind the arc.
Freshman guard Noelle Quinn will start in the backcourt in her
first year at UCLA. Quinn led Bishop Montgomery High School in
Torrance to three CIF Division III championships.
“I think we have one of the best backcourts in the
nation,” Blue said. “We don’t really have to set
it up that much because all of us are good shooters. We’re
going to score, score, score.”
Senior captain Jamila Veasley, who averaged 3.5 ppg and ranked
seventh in blocked shots with 0.69 bpg last year, rounds out the
starting lineup for UCLA.
“Veasley gives us the stability that we need,”
Olivier said. “She knows what she’s doing on the court,
and she does all the little things for us.”
Veasley’s leadership will be a vital factor for the
success of this year’s Bruin squad.
“I’m just going to fulfill my role as the captain
and just try to get the flow of the team right,” Veasley
said. “But, it’s going to be easier because we
don’t have to rely on one person. It isn’t just Nikki
Blue. We now have talent all over the court.”