Preview:
When we last played UCLA, back on January 13, we won 72-59 in what now looks like a comfortable victory. But it was anything but comfortable. For the first three quarters UCLA stymied our offense much as Cal had done and USC was to do. After three quarters, the game was 51-49 and it felt like all the other root canal games we have played. Unsung heroes Emma-Nnopu and Lepolo got our stagnant offense going in the 4th quarter and we pulled away.
Since that game UCLA has gone 7-3--in streaks. They won 3, lost three, and more recently have won 4 in a row. The losses were at Colorado in OT, at Utah, and at home against Arizona. Their current win streak was over ASU, OSU, Oregon and Cal last night.
UCLA is ranked 16 in both the AP and coaches polls, 16 by Massey, and 24 in NET. An interesting disparity there. They are 21-6 overall, and 10-5 in conference. They are currently tied with Arizona for fourth and fighting to get that first round bye in the Pac 12 tourney.
In our last game, Osborne, Conti, and Bessoir all were in double digits, but Kiki Rice was held to just 2 points. Since we played them, two players have been surging.
Freshman Londynn Jones, who had 6 points against us, has been a much more effective scoring machine than Rice. She comes off the bench but regularly plays 30 minutes, sometimes twice as much as Rice or Camryn Brown. Last night, for example, she led UCLA in scoring against Cal with 19, going 3/5 from three point range and adding 3 assists to 0 turnovers.
Bessoir, the 6'4" redshirt sophomore, has come into her own. She is shooting 37% of her threes, but is agile enough to put it on the floor. She shoots as well as Prechtel at her best, but moves somewhat better.
Cori Close has always been willing to play physical defense, and last time she was able to discombobulate us for three quarters. I hope we have learned from our struggles, but last night's game against USC does not convince me that we are over our offensive woes. On the other hand, UCLA may not have any answer for 6'7". Betts played 2 minutes in our first game. It will be interesting to see how she does in this one.
Our defense will need to control Jones--but she is one of those quick little guards who can manufacture her own shot, so that is a tough assignment. Bessoir cannot be left unattended on the perimeter, so Brink may have to come out of the paint to defend her, lessening her shot blocking ability under the basket. Osborne has been a consistent double digit scorer for them, and Rice is capable of going off on any given night. Defending all those quick guards won't be easy--especially with their post shooting treys. It will be a challenging match up for us.
When we last played UCLA, back on January 13, we won 72-59 in what now looks like a comfortable victory. But it was anything but comfortable. For the first three quarters UCLA stymied our offense much as Cal had done and USC was to do. After three quarters, the game was 51-49 and it felt like all the other root canal games we have played. Unsung heroes Emma-Nnopu and Lepolo got our stagnant offense going in the 4th quarter and we pulled away.
Since that game UCLA has gone 7-3--in streaks. They won 3, lost three, and more recently have won 4 in a row. The losses were at Colorado in OT, at Utah, and at home against Arizona. Their current win streak was over ASU, OSU, Oregon and Cal last night.
UCLA is ranked 16 in both the AP and coaches polls, 16 by Massey, and 24 in NET. An interesting disparity there. They are 21-6 overall, and 10-5 in conference. They are currently tied with Arizona for fourth and fighting to get that first round bye in the Pac 12 tourney.
In our last game, Osborne, Conti, and Bessoir all were in double digits, but Kiki Rice was held to just 2 points. Since we played them, two players have been surging.
Freshman Londynn Jones, who had 6 points against us, has been a much more effective scoring machine than Rice. She comes off the bench but regularly plays 30 minutes, sometimes twice as much as Rice or Camryn Brown. Last night, for example, she led UCLA in scoring against Cal with 19, going 3/5 from three point range and adding 3 assists to 0 turnovers.
Bessoir, the 6'4" redshirt sophomore, has come into her own. She is shooting 37% of her threes, but is agile enough to put it on the floor. She shoots as well as Prechtel at her best, but moves somewhat better.
Cori Close has always been willing to play physical defense, and last time she was able to discombobulate us for three quarters. I hope we have learned from our struggles, but last night's game against USC does not convince me that we are over our offensive woes. On the other hand, UCLA may not have any answer for 6'7". Betts played 2 minutes in our first game. It will be interesting to see how she does in this one.
Our defense will need to control Jones--but she is one of those quick little guards who can manufacture her own shot, so that is a tough assignment. Bessoir cannot be left unattended on the perimeter, so Brink may have to come out of the paint to defend her, lessening her shot blocking ability under the basket. Osborne has been a consistent double digit scorer for them, and Rice is capable of going off on any given night. Defending all those quick guards won't be easy--especially with their post shooting treys. It will be a challenging match up for us.