Amanda Livingston’s presence on the UCLA women’s
basketball team is felt, even if it sometimes unseen. The junior
forward’s play in the paint has been overshadowed by that of
teammates Noelle Quinn, Nikki Blue and Lisa Willis. Livingston
relishes her unheralded role, if she doesn’t simply poke fun
at the lack of attention she receives in boxing out centers and
fighting for rebounds. “I am no Nikki Blue,” said
Livingston, while standing across from the senior point guard. But
when the Bruins (13-9, 8-5 Pac-10) take on the visiting Washington
State Cougars tonight at Pauley Pavilion, coach Kathy Olivier will
be more than happy to see Livingston simply be herself.
That’s because UCLA’s most seasoned post player will be
given the task of containing Washington State junior forward Kate
Benz, who leads the conference in both rebounding (9.2 per game)
and defensive rebounding (6.62). Benz’s inside game fuels the
Cougars’ physical play, which has yielded the
conference’s top rebounding offense ““ 39.7 points per
game off second- or third-chance put backs. For a team that has
been so clearly defined by its finesse guard play, UCLA quietly
relies on the grit of Livingston over the course of a 40 minute
period. “She really allows the offense to spread out and play
to our strengths on the perimeter by being the tough player
inside,” Olivier said. “Amanda lets (Lindsey) Pluimer
hit her outside shots and Noelle, Nikki and Lisa to run the floor
by going up against the other team’s center.”
Livingston’s value to UCLA was never more evident than when
she went down with an ankle sprain only six minutes into the game
at Arizona State. Without Livingston on the floor, the Bruins had
nobody to shut down senior forward Kristen Koves and the Sun Devil
lead ballooned from five to 16 by the end of the half. The UCLA
coaching staff initially feared that Livingston, who is averaging
6.4 points per game in 18.3 minutes on the season, might have
suffered a serious enough injury to put her on the sideline for the
last five games of conference play. But she iced the right ankle
and managed to play in UCLA’s 90-64 win over Arizona, albeit
in a limited capacity. “I was happy just to come back and
contribute against Arizona,” Livingston said. “At this
point in the season I am willing to do whatever the team needs of
me. So to come in and play at all was nice.” After a few days
to let the swelling subside, Livingston has practiced to prepare
for Washington State, but more specifically her matchup with Benz.
“They like to play a physical brand of basketball, and it
will be big to stop her and get the ball into our shooters’
hands,” she said.
COUNTING DOWN: With only three homes games at
Pauley Pavilion left in her UCLA career, senior point guard Nikki
Blue has bittersweet feelings on this upcoming homestand before the
team finishes the season at the Oregon schools. “This whole
season has gone by so quickly,” she said. “I am sad to
be playing my last games in Pauley but I am happy to try and finish
my career off with wins. “These last games are big for the
seniors, to go out like we should.”