Freshman basketball player Amy Horton has been granted a release
from UCLA to transfer to a school closer to her hometown of
Tallapoosa, Ga., because of an illness in the family, UCLA
announced Friday.
“Family is very important to me, and that’s where I
need to be right now in my life,” Horton said in a press
release. “I’m thankful to UCLA for giving me this
opportunity, and I know that the relationships that I’ve
built here will last forever.”
Coach Kathy Olivier sees her transfer as a disappointing
occasion but also views it as an opportunity for other bench
players to get more playing time.
“Amy feels the need to be closer to home due to an illness
in the family, and I’ve always felt that family is the No. 1
priority,” said Olivier in a press conference. “We hope
that everything works out well for all of them.”
“We wish her luck and she’s a great person,”
Olivier said. “But to be honest, I think the team is going to
say, “˜You know what? ““ more playing for me. Let’s
go.’
“It’s unfortunate and we never want anyone from our
Bruin family to go, but it’s something that she needed to do
for her. … But it’s a part of life. Everything
doesn’t go your way. Things come and they go and change is
the only thing that’s consistent.”
With the Bruins, Horton averaged 8.9 minutes in 16 games with
three steals and 2.6 points per game.
Horton had one of her biggest games in one of the Bruins’
biggest games, contributing 15 minutes and nine points against the
Oklahoma Sooners in November.
Horton averaged 36 points per game as a senior in high school
and was a promising young player for the Bruins.
Amanda Livingston, a senior forward, who is good friends with
Horton, had several things weighing on her mind when she took the
court Sunday after UCLA announced Horton’s transfer.
“I just thought (Livingston) was very mature in how she
handled things,” Olivier said. “For her to be focused
like she was (on Sunday) was huge for us. She’s a big reason
why we won.”
“Honestly, that wasn’t the only factor. There were
other factors that I had on my mind,” Livingston said.
“I just didn’t want to lose. That was the main
thing. It’s my senior year and I have four other seniors with
me and we just don’t want to go out like that.
“Nikki Blue would always say, “˜Forget about the
coaches, forget about the fans ““ just play. Go out there and
do what you can do.'”