When the women’s basketball team gets a visit from the Washington schools this weekend, Westwood will be a little different.
It won’t be different because of Washington State, (12-11, 3-9) a solid if unspectacular team, or because of the University of Washington (16-7, 7-5). It will be different because Washington’s Kelsey Plum will be here. Averaging 27 points per game, she’s one of the most dominant offensive players in college basketball.
“She’s an amazing player (and) we all really respect her a lot,” said junior guard Kari Korver. “On offense she can do just about everything – shoot the 3, drive to the lane, hit the pull-up (and) shoots 90 percent from the free-throw line.”
When the two teams met in January, Plum dropped 23 – enough to give the Bruins (17-6, 9-3) their second loss in conference play and their biggest loss of the season. Though other players contributed, such as senior forward Talia Walton who stepped up with 22 points, it was the junior guard Plum that really commandeered the win, as she’s been doing all year.
“Whenever you have a really phenomenal player, a really phenomenal scorer on your team, it makes (their teammate’s) job easier because the defense has to be so concerned about Kelsey Plum, it makes Talia Walton more open,” Korver said.
LAST TIME: Read the recap of the Bruins’ recent matchups with the Washington schools.
Though Washington got swept by the Oregon teams this past weekend, the Huskies are still a dangerous matchup for anyone. They were a top-25 team going into that weekend and still appear like a team that can get into the tournament.
“(Plum) has a confidence about her that makes others players on the team believe that they can do things that they wouldn’t otherwise believe,” said coach Cori Close.
The Bruins, for their part, have a few Plum-like players of their own. In sophomore point guard Jordin Canada, the Bruins have a player that other teams respect to the same level that they do Plum. If any team has a player that can give Plum trouble, it’s UCLA.
“I’ve been playing against her since I was young, it’s always good playing against her,” Canada said. “She’s such a great shooter. We talk about it all the time when we see each other, it’s just nothing but great battles against her. She’s a really great point guard (and) a great shooter. Much respect to her and her game.”
Kelsey Plum is undoubtedly a great player. She’s one of the conference’s two guards that were named to the mid-season watch list for the 2016 Dawn Staley Award, given to the country’s best collegiate guard of the year. This accolade, however, won’t bother UCLA too much. Canada is the other one.