Bruins look to snap losing streak with Utes up next

By Mayar Zokaei and Scott
Schultz
Daily Bruin Contributors

Although it’s still one month before Nicole Kaczmarski and
LaCresha Flannigan are scheduled to return, the UCLA women’s
basketball team will play their first home game against Utah
tonight at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins probably wish that the three homecomings coincided.
UCLA (0-2), which opened the season in the Women’s Sports
Foundation Tournament at the University of New Mexico, lost by an
average of 24.5 points and shot only 30 percent from the field.

Still, the Bruins are upbeat heading into the contest against
Utah.

“It’s our first game at home and we’re excited
about that because we play better here,” said sophomore guard
Natalie Nakase. “We’re going to improve on the mistakes
we made at New Mexico and we’ll be ready for Utah.”

In its first two games, the lone bright spot for UCLA has been
junior guard Michelle Greco, who scored a career-high 28 points
against New Mexico Saturday and is averaging 25 points per contest.
The rest of the squad combined is averaging 28 points.

Greco, however, sprained her ankle at the end of the New Mexico
game and had to miss practice on Monday and Tuesday this week. She
practiced lightly over the following two days and said she should
be ready for tonight.

For the Bruins to evade an 0-3 start, support is needed from the
nine Bruins not named Greco.

Jalina Bradley scored 14 points in an exhibition game and showed
hints of breaking out, but it seems the only thing that broke in
New Mexico last weekend was her rhythm: she finished four-of-18
from the field.

Also needed to step up for UCLA is Shalada Allen, who leads the
trio of Texas transfers with 6.0 points a game and is tied with
Malika Leatham with a 3.5 rebound average.

Utah, which will be playing its first regular season game,
hasn’t faced UCLA since 1990. The Utes are one of the six
NCAA Tournament teams the Bruins will face in non-conference
play.

The Utes led the nation last season in scoring defense and
return 11 letter-winners from their 23-8, Mountain West Conference
Champion squad.

Junior Lindsay Herbert averaged 12.5 points in exhibition play
to lead the Utes, who use a balanced scoring attack. Their top
returning scorers, junior Lauren Beckman and senior Kristine
Anderson, averaged 10.7 and 9.7 points a game last season,
respectively.

“They are a very patient team on both offense and
defense,” Greco said. “They make smart plays so we also
have to play smart.”

“We have a couple of small injuries, but I don’t
think it will be a big problem,” freshman guard Gennifer
Arranaga added. “With who we have now, we can put up a good
fight and play strong against Utah.”

The Bruins will also play an exhibition game at home Sunday
against Love and Basketball, coached by former UCLA assistant
Colleen Matsuhara.