Basketball team prepares to defend new reputation

Tuesday, November 3, 1998

Basketball team prepares to defend new reputation

PREVIEW: Women’s squad wants to stay near top of poll,
continue

their rise to national prominence

By A. CinQue Carter

Daily Bruin Contributor

No matter the season, there is always something to prove.

After consecutive 14-13, (8-10 Pac-10) seasons in 1997 and 1998,
the UCLA women’s basketball team had to prove that head coach Kathy
Olivier’s recruiting actually meant something.

Last season, with the previous two recruiting classes (including
two consecutive Pac-10 freshmen of the year) all starting their
sophomore stints as Bruins, Olivier had to prove that she could win
with talent.

That task became all the more complicated following an 0-3
start, including a blow-out loss to lowly St. Mary’s and two
closely contested home losses to George Washington and Notre
Dame.

Apparently, UCLA became fed up with the losing because they were
able to put together a string of 20 wins in 26 games, to finish at
20-9.

"The team came a long way in a hurry after a disappointing
start," Olivier said. "We soon grew a great deal in terms of
confidence, both individually and as a team as the season wore
on."

With all the combined talent that the Bruins toted last season,
at least a fourth place finish in the Pac-10 was expected ­
but seven losses to the Tina Thompson-era USC Trojans in eight
attempts did not bode well for a team that had to face USC twice
last season.

Sophomores Janae Hubbard, Maylana Martin, Takiyah Jackson,
Melanie Pearson, Marie Philman, Carly Funicello and Erica Gomez had
to all step up and be impact players for the Bruins to be
successful against USC and the rest of the conference.

They had to prove that they belonged as part of the Bruin
mystique. And they did.

Last season’s UCLA team swept USC for the first time in the
Olivier era and swept seven other teams in the Pac-10, including
their nemesis Oregon.

In addition, they grouped a 14-4 Pac-10 campaign (tied for
second) with wins against Seton Hall and Rutgers, and a huge
victory at Duke and an overtime loss at North Carolina.

With four combined losses coming at the hands of Stanford and
Arizona (and only three losses in their last 17 regular season
games), UCLA marched to Alabama with upsets on their mind.

"We now know what it takes to be successful on the road in the
Pac-10 and to get to the tournament," Olivier said.

The seven sophomores combined forces with seniors Tawana Grimes,
Aisha Veasley, Jamie Oenning and Carla Houser to defeat a tough
Michigan squad and almost beat the host team.

A clock-keeping error prevented the Bruins from advancing to the
NCAA Sweet 16 and they have had the last eight months to think
about that.

Now the Bruins face the task of forgetting about the past and
moving on with this newborn season. They will have to do without
the services of the seniors and Jackson, who’s out for the season
with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

UCLA has now defined itself as a national power and must defend
its honor. Most pre-season polls have the squad ranked in the Top
10, and the Bruins are favored to win the Pac-10 for the first time
ever.

"We are ready to take the next step," Olivier concluded. "With
continued hard work, focus and good health, 1999 can be a very good
year for the Bruins."

Test number one is tonight, versus the Riverland Raiders at
Pauley Pavilion.

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