Last summer, the UCLA women’s basketball players sat down together, determined to make this season a success.
There were no coaches present – just players who met to set their team goals.
During the meeting, each player called out their individual goals for the team, and the top four were chosen.
“We set expectations: how do we want to work, from on the court to off the court chemistry … (and winning the) Pac-12 (conference) was one of (our goals),” redshirt junior forward Atonye Nyingifa said.
Now, in the latter half of conference season, No. 17 UCLA (17-4, 8-2 Pac-12) is in the thick of the conference race, tied for third with Washington (16-5, 8-2), and one game behind first place.
That’s why tonight’s game between the Bruins and the Huskies is so pivotal – the winner would control their destiny in the Pac-12 race.
“The ultimate goal is to win the conference and … win a Pac-12 championship. That’s what we’re going into each game thinking,” senior guard Mariah Williams said.
UCLA also comes into the game second in the Pac-12 in scoring offense, only falling behind Washington.
But the teams’ styles of play differ greatly.
The Huskies are constantly swinging the ball on the perimeter, ready to pounce on any opportunity to hoist an open 3-pointer.
They’re the conference’s best 3-point shooting team, making over nine three balls per game and nearly four more than the next-closest team.
UCLA, however, has exploited its size advantage inside, scoring around the basket and on offensive rebound putbacks.
Back in mid-January, the two teams faced off in a back-and-forth affair until UCLA’s presence finally overwhelmed Washington down the stretch in what became an 85-68 UCLA win. Coach Cori Close believes this game, however, will be decided beyond the X’s and O’s, and understands what her team needs to do to leave in prime position to win the conference.
“This is (Washington’s) biggest game of the year. They need a signature win to get into the NCAA tournament. They’re right on the cusp,” Close said.
“They have everything to play for and everything to lose, and we have to come with that same kind of urgency and focus to get better.”
UCLA will also play Washington State (8-13, 4-6) on Sunday.
Email Kalra at ckalra@media.ucla.edu.