The long and winding road of conference play reaches another crucial turn for the women’s basketball team this weekend.
Two wins would mean a clearer path to a postseason goal, while a slipup would be a major setback.
As UCLA prepares to head north to the Bay Area this weekend, keeping alive the momentum that was earned with a home sweep is on each player’s mind. Sitting at 6-3 in the Pac-10, the Bruins hope for a victory over California and Stanford to solidify their status in the top half of the conference.
“This is a big road trip,” coach Kathy Olivier said. “It’s a chance to see if we have improved and if we deserve to be in the top half of the Pac-10.”
UCLA knows it can compete with the No. 10 Golden Bears and No. 7 Cardinal, two of the elite teams in the country. Earlier this month, the Bruins faced both squads at home, stunning the then-No. 2 Cardinal and nearly pulling off another shocker before falling to Cal in overtime. The team faces a stiffer test on the road, where they have struggled this year, going 5-6.
“We have to remember that, on the road, the court is the same dimensions, the free throws are the same, things are the same,” Olivier said.
Even the lack of crowd support is a driving force for her squad.
“On the road it’s always nice to silence a crowd,” she said.
Key for the Bruins will be their defensive job on reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year Devanei Hampton, who put up 16 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Bears in their first matchup at UCLA. The Bruin defense has been a strong point since the start of conference play, and Olivier stressed the importance of maintaining this level of play against a talented offensive outfit.
“I thought we gave up a lot of points against Cal,” Olivier said. “We’re a better team when we channel our energy into playing good defense.”
The Bruins look to be led by the ever-stellar play of senior Lindsey Pluimer, who leads the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game, as well as the defensive tenacity of Nina Earl, who has 11 steals in the past three games. The Bruins also lead the conference in rebounding, which will be a key part of the game against a formidable front line of California.
With the knowledge that they can hang with elite squads, UCLA hopes to pull of a pair of surprises.
“Our game against Cal could have gone either way. We know what we’re up against,” Olivier said. “If we don’t have our focus, it could be an ugly road trip.”
In order to attain a road split or steal two wins in the Bay Area, UCLA must enter Haas Pavilion with the attitude of confidence that comes with a good basketball team. Olivier is confident that her team is ready to show up.
“I think that our mind-set is at a good place right now,” Olivier said. “We have to go in there and just compete.”
After a tough game Thursday, the Bruins will travel from Berkeley to Palo Alto to face Stanford in Maples Pavilion.
UCLA shocked Stanford in their previous meeting, and the Cardinal are sure to be looking for revenge. The Bruins are just looking to keep their conference momentum alive.
“A split would be great, and going up there and stealing two would be huge,” Olivier said.