Almost one month into the season, the UCLA women’s basketball team still hasn’t found what it’s looking for: an identity.
But senior guard Thea Lemberger isn’t worried. No identity, no problem.
“I think we’re growing, and still trying to find our identity,” Lemberger said. “There has been a lot of ups and down, but we’re focused on the process. We’re working to play later in the season – postseason play.”
But postseason play is a ways off.
Right now, the team is just working to improve and find that identity. This weekend, UCLA (3-4) will continue its search, playing against No. 4 Notre Dame (6-0).
So far, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Bruins.
There have been noticeable highs – like UCLA’s win over then-No. 10 Oklahoma – and noticeable lows – like UCLA’s 28-point blowout loss to then-No. 17 Nebraska.
Lately, though, the team seems to be dipping down in another valley. UCLA went 1-2 over Thanksgiving break play, with its only win coming from a last-second game-winning shot against Grand Canyon.
“We’re hitting (adversity) right now, and we just need to weather the storm,” said sophomore guard Nirra Fields. “(We have to) get through and push through, have each others backs and help someone out. We’re going through adversity, yes, we had our good times – now we’re on our low times.”
Luckily for the Bruins, finding the problem isn’t their issue.
“We’re not on the same page,” Fields said. “When the other team hits runs in the game, and we’re not getting defensive stops and our offense is not working, we all just kind of crack and we all go our separate ways.”
Now, the issue is fixing it. In practice, the team is consistently working on playing as a unit, increasing its in-game communication through talking and running plays fluidly.
It’s early in the season, and there’s still time for the team to grow. For coach Cori Close, that in itself is the key.
“I think the thing about this group is that their hearts are really good, they’re coachable. But they don’t realize there’s more in them,” Close said. “As they continue to let their experiences teach their hearts, they’ll realize they have new (levels) of toughness … (and) productivity they can reach if they’re able to focus on the right things.”