Squad hopes to beat Cal, build some momentum

TYSON EVANS Sophomore Gennifer Arranaga and the
rest of the Bruins seek to take down California today

By Adam Titcher
Daily Bruin Contributor

Tonight’s matchup against California at Pauley Pavilion is
crucial in determining how UCLA women’s basketball enters the
first-ever Pac-10 Tournament. The Bruins have been pushed and
shoved all season, but they want to end positively.

If the Bruins lose, they will likely receive the ninth seed in
the tournament, for they face second ranked Stanford on Sunday, a
team that UCLA is not confident it can beat.

“Our team thinks we are going to beat Cal, which is a good
thing,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. “The first game
will be a battle of offense, and I expect to see high
scores.”

If UCLA (7-18, 3-13 Pac-10) does win today, they secure the
eighth spot in the Pac-10 Tournament, which begins March 1. With
similar records, the Bears (7-18, 2-14) will then have a worse
conference record in the final standings.

The numbers show that both these teams have struggled and both
are craving victories ““ each team having lost eight of their
last ten games.

In December, the Bruins stomped on the Bears 64-48 with a lineup
featuring junior forward Kristee Porter, who has since left to play
professional volleyball.

But Olivier sees a different team now.

“They’re definitely playing a lot better, and they
are even similar to us for they are hard workers,” she
said.

While hard work has not given the Bruins many victories, against
Cal it just may once again. The game is of utmost importance to the
seniors, who are playing their last two games this weekend at
home.

The Bruins want to win, but the seniors want to roll into the
playoffs strongly.

“When the time comes and the realization of the tournament
kicks in, we will say it is now or never,” senior center
Malika Leatham said.

Yet, to end on a high note, they need to beat Cal. The rivalry
has existed since UCLA was founded, and the players believe a win
over Cal is more important than the Cardinal game.

But whether or not they beat Cal, Friday will still be a preview
of their first round Tournament matchup ““ the Bruins will
face the Bears again in the Tournament, either as an eight or a
nine seed.

“We beat them before and we are just going to take it to
them, but the Pac-10 is unpredictable,” senior forward
Shalada Allen said