Every win, in whatever fashion, is a plus for the UCLA
women’s basketball team, which entered Saturday’s
contest having dropped three of its last four road games.
But as the regular season draws to a close and the Bruins look
to position themselves for the NCAA Tournament, Saturday’s
convincing 74-54 victory over hapless Oregon State seems all the
more important.
“We knew we had to come out strong, maintain our poise and
not get frustrated,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. “We
ran the floor hard, and we saw the outcome.”
The continued improvement of sophomore Amanda Livingston was a
big reason for UCLA’s success. For the third straight game,
the forward notched double figures in scoring with 12 points
against the Beavers (5-15, 1-10 Pac-10). Known primarily as a
bruiser down-low on the defensive end, Livingston has picked her
game up by running the floor well and getting open.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives me,”
said Livingston, who also finished with eight rebounds. “(The
team) is starting to learn where everyone likes to be.”
“Amanda has been a beast running the floor,” Olivier
added. “She gives Nikki (Blue) some options.”
Ever since its loss to Arizona State back in January, UCLA
(13-7, 6-4 Pac-10) has been befuddled by opponents’ zone
defense. But with key shooting and extra passes, the Bruins seemed
to be able to find the holes in the zone and solved the puzzle.
Against Oregon State, both junior guards Blue and Lisa Willis
picked apart the zone, as each player finished with double doubles
on the night. With the absence of sophomore Noelle Quinn, who is
recuperating from left-knee surgery, Blue picked up the slack,
scoring 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting while dishing out 10
assists.
Willis, meanwhile, had 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
“Both of them are trying to make up for Noelle,”
Olivier said. “(Nikki’s) just stepped it up in so many
areas. She’s been actively pushing the ball up the floor, and
in our transition game, she’s getting a lot more people
involved.
“Lisa needs to remember it’s not all about getting a
boatload of points, and she did that (Saturday). She’s a high
rebounder, and she had only one turnover. Her numbers are way
up.”
After getting dominated on the boards against Oregon on
Thursday, the Bruins made a conscious effort to box out and attack
the offensive glass. The end result was utter dominance on the
rebounding end as UCLA outrebounded Oregon State 46-27.
The Bruins’ full-court defense held the Beavers scoreless
for 6 minutes and 33 seconds during the first half. And after
trailing in the opening minutes, UCLA went on a 19-0 run from the
end of the first half to the beginning of the second half and never
looked back.