For once it wasn’t Nikki Blue or Lisa Willis that sparked
the Bruins.
It was seldom-used Shaina Zaidi.
In UCLA’s loss against USC on Saturday, the sophomore
guard was the most efficient player for the UCLA women’s
basketball team.
In just eight minutes of play, Zaidi tallied 10 points, all in
the first half. The sophomore connected on two of three attempts
from beyond the arc and sank four of five free throws.
“I’ve been on in practice,” Zaidi said.
“I’ve been pretty confident in my shot, so I knew once
I was in there, I just needed to step up, and I can’t let the
team go down because I’m in there.
“It felt just like practice when Nikki and Lisa pass me
the ball.”
But despite a very productive first half, Zaidi found herself on
the bench for all but 3.8 seconds of the second half, hoping her
number would be called.
“I was definitely ready on the bench, cheering the team
on,” Zaidi said. “The way the game was going, it was a
fast-paced game, possession after possession, and I just stayed
ready.”
Nevertheless, her 10-point performance, which was also a
career-high for Zaidi, was the first time this season a Bruin
reserve has scored in double digits.
Zaidi, who averaged only 1.8 points per game in 4.6 minutes of
play this season, was ready for her opportunity after Bruin guards
Lauren Pedersen and Ortal Oren got into early foul trouble in
Saturday’s contest.
With Oren picking up three fouls in just two minutes, and
Pedersen collecting a pair of early fouls in the first half, having
to call on Zaidi may have been a blessing in disguise for UCLA
coach Kathy Olivier.
“She did a lot of good things,” Olivier said.
“She stayed out wide and she took the open shot. Shaina is
just going to get better and better and I think that next year
she’ll see more playing time if she continues to improve.
“She got us some momentum, which was nice.”
But with the Bruins trailing for the majority of the game,
Olivier felt that there was not an opportune time to put Zaidi back
in after her scoring flurry.
“When I feel like I can use her, I’ll put her
in,” Olivier said. “But in the second half I
didn’t feel like there was an opportunity for her to get in
there. I thought we were in a better flow in the second half and we
were doing some good things.
“She’s going to get more and more opportunities, she
just has to stay ready.”
Though her performance may have been a surprise to those not
familiar with the Bruin sophomore, Zaidi’s teammates were not
at all shocked to see her contribute. In fact, it was a relief that
someone aside from the usual suspects stepped up.
“Sometimes it’s just unfortunate she’s a point
guard playing behind me,” Blue said. “But the girl can
shoot; she’s one of the best shooters on the team. I think
Shaina has it in her to come out and score 10 points any night.
“It’s a big boost for us to see someone come off the
bench and score.”
When UCLA faces Arizona State, a team that defeated the Bruins
two times this season, in the Pac-10 Tournament in the opening
round this Saturday, Zaidi will maintain the same outlook she
always has.
“My teammates know I’m ready,” Zaidi said.
“Whatever to help the team, I’ll do.”