UCLA looks to snap losing streak minus floor leader

By Will Whitehorn
Daily Bruin Contributor

When the UCLA women’s basketball team takes the floor
tonight against Oregon, it will do so without one of their team
leaders.

The Bruins will attempt to snap a seven-game slide at Pauley
Pavilion minus junior forward Stacy Robertson, who is out
indefinitely with a possible torn ACL. The injury could cause her
to miss the remainder of the season.

Robertson hurt herself while attempting a shot in practice
Wednesday.

“We’re waiting on her MRI,” Head Coach Kathy
Olivier said. “She’s one of the vocal leaders.
It’s good to have her around, because she keeps everyone
upbeat. She’ll be greatly missed.”

“I feel bad because I can’t be out there,”
said Robertson, who is on crutches. “I’m hoping
it’s not my ACL. I’m in denial right now.
“˜I’ll be back next week’ ““ that’s how
I’m thinking.”

On Saturday UCLA (3-20, 2-10 Pac-10) will host an Oregon team
(13-10, 6-7) fresh off an overtime win over Washington, which ended
its own losing streak at five games. The Bruins suffered a 54-43
loss in their only other meeting with Oregon this season. So far
Oregon is 3-8 on the road.

To combat stingy Oregon, which gives up only 62 points per game,
UCLA will need big games from junior guard Michelle Greco, the
Pac-10 scoring leader at 19.7 points per game, and sophomore
forward Kristee Porter, who set a career-high last week with 25
points in a loss to Arizona.

Olivier identified some keys to overcoming Oregon’s size
advantage, particularly the presence of 6-foot-3 center Angelina
Wolvert, who is ninth in the Pac-10 in scoring with an average of
13.6 points per game.

“We’re going to have to use our quickness,”
Olivier said. “Hopefully our defense will create our offense,
and when we do that, we’re right in the games.”

The Bruins are 3-3 when holding opponents under 40 percent
shooting from the floor. Greco is fifth in the Pac-10 with more
than two steals per game, and the team is second in steals in
conference games, averaging 11.4.

Olivier hopes her team can repeat its defensive performance on
Oregon’s inside game.

“The first time around they really didn’t hurt us
inside,” she said. “Hopefully we can do that again, and
if they beat us, they’ll beat us from the outside.”

Oregon holds a 17-15 edge in the all-time series with UCLA, and
has won four straight meetings. UCLA’s last win against
Oregon was a 76-70 decision on Jan. 8, 1999.

Olivier believes her squad will be more in their element this
time around.

“We’re not a great road team,” she said.
“I think our team puts forth much more effort at home, so we
tend to have better games at home.”

Freshman forward Whitney Jones stressed fundamentals.

“We have to play aggressive defense, and execute like
we’re supposed to on offense,” she said. “If we
play our game, I think we can win.”