After opening the season with a win over Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, the UCLA women’s basketball team will go back to work tonight to play Pepperdine (1-0).
With just one day of practice to prepare for the Waves, the Bruins (1-0) have been cleaning up their areas of improvement while scouting a balanced Pepperdine team.
After assessing where UCLA stands, coach Nikki Caldwell said that the game tonight will be a good opportunity for the Bruins to see if they can improve on areas they did not excel in on Sunday. A focal point has been expanding the team’s man-to-man defense, which will come in handy against a balanced offense like the one Pepperdine boasts.
“We only had one day basically to prep for Pepperdine, but you know, when you get into the season you hope that what you have been practicing and working on will translate,” Caldwell said. “I am challenging our team to go out and compete. I do not want anything but competitors on that floor.”
While Pepperdine’s West Coast Conference may not boast schools as competitive as those found in the Pac-10, Caldwell said the team would be wrong to underestimate the Waves.
Last season, Pepperdine defeated UCLA 91-79 in the preseason. Though UCLA leads the all-time series, 13-3, the two teams have split the last four games.
“Pepperdine beat UCLA last year, so you do not ever underestimate anybody based on what their record is or what their conference play is,” Caldwell said. “They are well-coached, they are a very disciplined team, they are hungry for victories, just like everybody else is.”
The players UCLA will have to keep an eye on tonight include junior center Miranda Ayim and senior guards Nakeya Isabell and Jessica Ross. Last season, Ayim posted 20 points and 11 rebounds against UCLA.
From reviewing game tapes, Caldwell has prepared the Bruins to push the tempo of the game and to watch out for Isabell’s ability to get the Wave’s transition game going.
UCLA will also keep an eye on Ross at all times due to her skill at hitting the quick 3-pointer.
Caldwell said UCLA also has to be ready to compete against any of Pepperdine’s bench players, many of whom entered the Wave’s game last week against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“Obviously, everybody came in for Pepperdine and contributed,” Caldwell said. “They had quality minutes from their bench play.”