For the UCLA women’s basketball team, Wednesday
night’s home opener against Clemson presents quite the
dilemma. While it’s a game the Bruins may overlook in
anticipation of their showdown with No. 4 Texas on Sunday at Pauley
Pavilion, it’s also a game they can’t afford to lose. A
schedule frontloaded with tough non-conference opponents awaiting
them, it’s never been more paramount for the Bruins to avoid
slip-ups, especially at home. But that still doesn’t mean
some UCLA players aren’t peeking at this weekend’s game
against the Longhorns. “That’s the game I’ve got
circled on my schedule,” said junior guard Nikki Blue of
Sunday’s game. “To play Texas though, we have to get by
Clemson first.” “You can’t get excited about
Sunday until you take care of Wednesday,” added coach Kathy
Olivier. After splitting two games last week in the Miami Jam
tournament, UCLA (1-1) will look to take advantage of an
inexperienced team in Clemson (1-1) that features only one senior
and two returning starters from last year’s roster. If
anything, the matchup should allow the Bruins to prepare for what
may be their biggest test of the early season. Come Sunday, revenge
will be on the minds of many UCLA players, as they will look to
avenge a 89-58 defeat suffered at the hands of Texas last season.
Only this time the game will be played in the friendly confines of
Pauley Pavilion. “Tomorrow will give us a confidence boost,
knowing we can beat teams from the ACC and other
conferences,” Blue said. “Getting a win would be great
going into Thanksgiving and it would be really good going into
Texas.”
INJURY UPDATE: Both Blue, and sophomore Noelle
Quinn, are still not close to being 100 percent. Blue continues to
recover from an ankle injury she suffered during practice three
weeks ago when she landed awkwardly after snatching a rebound.
Though the junior played this past weekend at the Miami Jam
tournament, Blue only posted totals of three and four points,
respectively. While Blue says she’s close to about 70
percent, Quinn is closer to returning to full speed. The sophomore,
who suffered from dehydration in Florida in the season-opener
against Texas Christian, still scored 14 and 20 points respectively
over the weekend.