Unlike last season when the Bruins mostly relied on the trio of
Lisa Willis, Nikki Blue and Noelle Quinn, this year the team will
need different players to step up every game.
It will be a contrast of talented young players with size
coupled with proven leader Quinn.
Quinn will be the focal point of the team but young players such
as freshman Moniquee Alexander and sophomore Chinyere Ibekwe will
be expected to play major roles.
“”˜Ray Ray’ (Ibekwe) has really stepped it
up,” coach Kathy Olivier said at media day in San Jose
yesterday.
“It’s nice to have a freshman with size. Moniquee
Alexander is going to continue to get better and help us in
size.”
The Bruins have four players who are 6 feet 4 inches or taller,
including Alexander who’s listed at 6 feet 6 inches. This
should provide a boost for the squad who out-rebounded opponents by
an average of 1.3 per game last season.
“We’re bigger this year,” Olivier said.
“It’s nice to have post players in there mixing it
up.”
Junior Lindsey Pluimer, who was third on the team with 5.4
rebounds per game last season, will likely see more time playing
the perimeter despite her 6-foot-4-inch frame.
“Pluimer is a good size, but we’ll probably move her
to the perimeter,” Olivier said, “It’s going to
be a different look, we’ve got people that are very hungry,
which is nice to see.”
Among those who are hungry for wins since last year’s
early second-round exit in the NCAA tournament is Quinn, whose
leadership position is still fresh for her.
“Noelle is doing a little of everything,” Olivier
said. “It’s fun to watch. She’s more vocal and
more demanding of the basketball. She’s always had that
freedom, but I don’t know if she felt it with Nikki always
running the point. She never thinks about her points or assists,
it’s just fun to watch how much joy she has playing
basketball,” the Bruin coach said.
“When we need points,” Olivier said,
“she’ll score. When she needs her team to get involved,
they do. If we need rebounds, she’s there.”
“There are a number of great players, but I think there
are only a few exceptional players, and she is one,” the
coach said.
The team’s health is also critical for their success as
they are relying on younger players.
“I’m grateful that we’re healthy,”
Olivier said, “and that’s a big deal. It’s nice
to have 14 players there practicing every day.”
Having the team healthy will be pivotal once the squad enters
conference play where six of the Pac-10 teams are ranked in the top
25 in the USA Today poll, including the Bruins at No. 23.
“The Pac-10 is so competitive and we want to prepare
ourselves for that,” Olivier said. “We want to compete
in the conference. You can’t rest on any of these schools. We
feel with our schedule we have to play our best to prepare for the
Pac-10. Noelle will get the team ready to go and I think it’s
going to be a great year.”