Over the past two seasons, the UCLA and USC women’s
basketball teams’ rivalry has been as competitive as ever.
The outcomes of the last five matches have each been decided by
four points or fewer. As the Trojans come to Westwood this
Saturday, fans can expect another close game.
While UCLA (9-9, 3-3) has dropped three consecutive close games
to the Trojans (9-7, 3-3), UCLA coach Kathy Olivier described both
teams as in “the same position” this season. Both UCLA
and USC currently hold 3-3 records in Pac-10 play. “With
rivalry games you never know what’s going to happen,”
Olivier said. “Every year it comes down to free throws or the
last minute.”
Both UCLA and USC are guided by Naismith Trophy preseason
candidates in Noelle Quinn and Eshaya “Shay” Murphy. As
the Trojans’ senior guard, Murphy leads her team in points,
rebounds, and steals. UCLA’s senior guard Quinn is the
Bruins’ leader in points and assists.
Both teams also receive plenty of support from other players.
Both UCLA’s junior forward Lindsey Pluimer and the
Trojans’ senior point guard Jamie Hagiya regularly score in
the double digits. Meanwhile, UCLA sophomore center/forward
Chinyere Ibekwe and USC senior center Chloe Kerr also play key
roles in their teams’ lineups.
According to Olivier, the Bruins will need to play good defense
and step up their ball control in order to prepare for USC and the
increase in energy that comes with a rivalry game.
“It scares me because one of our weaknesses is throwing
the ball away when there is a little more energy than usual,”
said Olivier.
While both teams are fighting for the fourth-place spot in the
Pac-10, Saturday’s game is about more than just basketball.
With the intensification of the UCLA and USC competition over the
past two years, it’s about pride.
“It’s L.A. and lots of the players face each other
in summer league,” Olivier said, describing the rivalry.
“It’s about bragging rights.”
QUINN ADDS TO RECORD BOOKS: After the
weekend’s series against Oregon State and Oregon, Quinn
earned her spot in two UCLA women’s basketball records. With
nine rebounds and three assists during last Saturday’s win
over Oregon, Quinn entered into the Top 10 career charts for
rebounds and assists. Quinn currently has 698 career rebounds and
377 career assists.
“Noelle is playing very good basketball right now,”
said Olivier. “I can’t say enough good things about
her.”
This is not the first time that Quinn has made it into the UCLA
women’s basketball records. She is already in the Top 10 for
three-point shots made ““ she has 66. She was also the fifth
in UCLA women’s basketball history to score a career 1600
points and make 700 rebounds.
“Most players can do one or two things well. Noelle does
everything well,” Olivier said.
Known as “Miss February” on the team, Quinn has been
known to get a feel for her teammates and opponents as the season
starts off and then explode with her productivity by the time
February rolls around. With half of the Pac-10 season still
remaining, Quinn will have time to reach yet another record. She is
10 points away from moving into UCLA’s Top 10 in scoring.