[81alum]

"We've been in worse situations than this for sure," VanDerveer said. "We've been 0-2 at the start of the (conference season). We just have to figure out how people can help us. How can Mikaela Ruef help us? How can Tess Picknell help us? How can we play people? They're not Nneka (Ogwumike), no one is. It's a puzzle that we're just working on and working on."

Sounds like Tara is open to playing Tess more, too.  And it was thought at the beginning of the year that Tess would need a few months practice in the system to be ready by the begining of conference play.  Now is the time.

UCLA is a tough team.  USC is too.  They took Cal to overtime at Haas yesterday and led Cal for most of the game.  Without being too melodramatic, I think this weekend is the make-or-break weekend for the season.  If the team bounces back and shows enough resiliance to beat two very good teams after our disappointing loss, then we will be back on track and have a somewhat easier stretch as we prepare for March.  If we drop another game or two this weekend, then I think we can call it a rebuilding year as we wait for our outstanding crop of frosh and redshirts to come in next year.

[81alum]

"We've been in worse situations than this for sure," VanDerveer said. "We've been 0-2 at the start of the (conference season). We just have to figure out how people can help us. How can Mikaela Ruef help us? How can Tess Picknell help us? How can we play people? They're not Nneka (Ogwumike), no one is. It's a puzzle that we're just working on and working on."

Sounds like Tara is open to playing Tess more, too.  And it was thought at the beginning of the year that Tess would need a few months practice in the system to be ready by the begining of conference play.  Now is the time.

UCLA is a tough team.  USC is too.  They took Cal to overtime at Haas yesterday and led Cal for most of the game.  Without being too melodramatic, I think this weekend is the make-or-break weekend for the season.  If the team bounces back and shows enough resiliance to beat two very good teams after our disappointing loss, then we will be back on track and have a somewhat easier stretch as we prepare for March.  If we drop another game or two this weekend, then I think we can call it a rebuilding year as we wait for our outstanding crop of frosh and redshirts to come in next year.