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Big Apple talent offers w. basketball biting chance

By Daily Bruin Staff

Feb. 21, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Big Apple talent offers w. basketball biting chance

Frosh point guard Erica Gomez is conference contender with 6.7
assists

By Emmanuelle Ejercito

Daily Bruin Staff

There is a certain drawl in Erica Gomez’s speech that hints of
the Big Apple. On the basketball court, her play tells of a girl
brought up on asphalt and chain-link nets: She dazzles with wrap
around dribbles, she parts the defense like Moses at the Red Sea,
and she can see an open player as if she had eyes in the back of
her head.

The UCLA freshman developed her skills playing on the courts in
the streets of New York. Her father, Lorenzo, would bring his two
daughters, Audrey and Erica along when he went to play ball. And
the boys weren’t about to let any girls score on them.

"When you are playing on the streets in New York, it’s a lot
rougher, everything is more physical, you have to work for every
basket, for every pass," Gomez said. "It was really hard. When you
would first walk out on the court they would be like, ‘You’re not
playing,’ you would have to fight to be able to play … then after
you start playing and you start scoring, they respect you.

"But when you’re playing they’re like, ‘You’re not going to
score on me, you’re not going to make a nice move or a nice pass on
me because I’m not going to look stupid in front of my
friends.’"

Her experience on the blacktop has made her one of the Bruins’
top players on the hardwood. Three games into the season, the
freshman was given the nod for a starting role. In her second start
she tied a school record with 15 assists. She is on pace to be one
of UCLA’s best at the point position. Her 6.7 assists ranks Gomez
among the top three in the conference and 15th nationally. Not bad
when combined with her 11.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

"I don’t think that I could say enough good things about her,"
UCLA head coach Kathy Olivier said. "As a freshman she’s been
playing more minutes than anybody else on the team. She sees the
floor so well, she makes everyone around her so much better."

Success on the court is nothing new to Gomez. At St. John Vinney
High School in Holmdel, N.J., Gomez led her school to three state
championships and was named MVP in all three championship
games.

And to think that this blue chip almost became a Demon
Deacon.

After taking her official visit to Wake Forest, Gomez had her
heart set on going there. But her father told her to take the other
two visits, to Stanford and UCLA.

"I went to Stanford and I didn’t like it at all," Gomez said.
"So I was like ‘I’m going to Wake Forest.’ My dad told me to take
my last visit. I came here and I felt like I just fit in."

And for that, Olivier is grateful.

"To be honest she is going to make this program turn around,"
Olivier said. "Her and Takiyah (Jackson, another top recruit)
coming to UCLA, and saying we are going to take a chance and come
to UCLA … I will never forget that."

An added bonus for Gomez trekking out to California is that her
sister plays crosstown at Southern Cal. But there is no rivalry
here. The two sisters have never played against each other and it
will stay that way when when USC visits Pauley Pavilion this
Saturday.

During preseason conditioning Audrey suffered an anterior
cruciate ligament injury to her right knee and is sitting out her
senior season.

Although Erica is disappointed that her sister isn’t playing,
she is not disappointed she won’t be playing against her. The
sisters enjoy a close relationship. And with Nora, Erica’s mother
and loudest fan, three thousand miles away, Audrey gives Erica a
lot of support.

"I talk to her everyday," Gomez said. "She comes to my games and
she makes it so much better because I don’t have my dad in the
stands or anything like that. So when I see my sister it gives me
confidence."

Not that Gomez appears to be lacking in that department.

But then again one shouldn’t be fooled by appearances. Although
she loves Dennis Rodman, paints her fingernails before games in
colors that would complement Rodman’s hair, and has a small tattoo
of a yin and yang in the sun on her right ankle, Gomez describes
herself as somewhat bashful.

"People see me as a confident person, you know – really
talkative and outgoing," Gomez said. "But inside I’m really
sensitive … people don’t realize that a lot of things get to me.
And I’m kind of shy. I can’t go up to someone and just start a
conversation, but if someone comes up to me and starts asking
questions I could talk forever."

But on the court, it’s a different story. Gomez is not a vocal
leader, but leads by setting up the plays and knowing what the
coaches want. Described as a feisty competitor by the coaches,
Gomez does what it takes to win. She takes charge, she penetrates
into the lanes, she dishes out, and she knows that she can make
plays happen.

"At the end of the Stanford game, I knew I was the one who was
going to shoot that ball," Gomez said regarding her three-point
attempt in the last seconds of the two-point loss to the Cardinal
at Pauley.

"She’s a fighter," Olivier said. "She just gets in there and she
just penetrates. She wants someone to pick on her so that she can
dish to that person. She is the most unselfish player that we have
seen in a long time. She does it all."

And she is just a freshman. Gomez has three seasons left and she
has high hopes for the future.

Said Gomez, displaying some of her East Coast confidence: "Next
year will be good for us. We will go as far as we want to go and
before I leave, we’re going to win a championship."

SCOTT O/Daily Bruin

Freshman point guard Erica Gomez first learned to play
basketball on the blacktop courts of New York.

Comments to [email protected]

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