W. basketball: Team leader able to play after head injury in Oregon game

Life without Nikki Blue is one thought that no player or coach
on the UCLA women’s basketball team ever wants to encounter
again. Already having endured a right ankle sprain and a mild
concussion, Blue received a blow to the face causing her neck to be
jolted back during the waning seconds of UCLA’s 70-54 victory
over Oregon on Tuesday. Though it is expected that she won’t
miss any time on the court due to her most recent injury, the
junior guard knows how important it is for her to stay healthy.
“I know how the team runs off of me, I think they still did
well even without me, but I never want to see our team without
me,” said Blue, who has missed only one game this season
““ an 83-60 loss to No. 9 Ohio State. “It’s not
fun without Nikki,” coach Kathy Olivier added. “She has
displayed amazing leadership this year. She’s at another
level. She’s determined to get this team to win a Pac-10
championship.” Since Blue returned from her concussion, the
No. 23 Bruins (9-3, 3-0 Pac-10) have won three straight conference
games. During this stretch, Blue has improved upon her regular
season numbers, averaging 14 points, 7.3 rebounds per game and five
assists per game.

FRESHMAN FITTING IN: In the victory over
Oregon, freshman forward Lindsey Pluimer went 6-for-12 from the
field en route to 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in the
process. Pluimer, a silent weapon for UCLA’s offense, is one
of four Bruins averaging double-digits this season, bagging in a
solid 10.8 ppg on a team-high 50 percent shooting while snatching
down 5.8 rpg. “I just want to play hard and help the team
win, whatever that means,” Pluimer said. “If it’s
scoring or rebounding, whatever, as long as I’m helping the
team out.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: A sense of swagger is more
than apparent this season for the Bruins. No longer the underdog,
UCLA has now developed into a program that teams seek to pull out
an upset victory against to make a name for themselves. Yet, the
role reversal in Olivier and players’ minds, and the
pressure, is one the team does not shy away from. “This team
has high expectations for themselves,” Olivier said.
“It’s almost like we had a chip on our shoulder to show
people we were good, but if we can bring that to the table along
with being ranked, I think that will make us a better basketball
team.” “Last year we had the mentality that we were
going to get people, and now people are coming to get us,”
sophomore guard Noelle Quinn said. “But this year we know
we’re good, and last year we were like we know we’re
good, but this year we’re adamant about it.”

OREGON BREAKERS: Junior guard Lisa Willis
surpassed former Bruin DeDe Mosman in three-pointers converted
against Oregon State last Sunday with her 137th made trifecta. …
Junior forward Brittany Ringel scored her first point of her career
converting one of two free throws in the win over the Beavers.

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