Leaders of the Pac

How did they get here?

By forging an identity and sticking with it.

Once UCLA coach Kathy Olivier persuaded prep All-American Nikki
Blue to sign with the Bruins three years ago, she began recruiting
other players who would blend well with the multi-talented
guard.

The result is this year’s creative, free-wheeling team
that relies on its speed, athleticism, hustle and desire to
overwhelm its opponents.

So far this season, that style has been very effective. UCLA
notched victories over powerhouse programs such as Texas and Purdue
in the early part of the season and is unbeaten thus far in
conference play.

Two years ago, the Bruins reeled off six consecutive victories
to begin conference play before fading. This season, they’re
legit.

Where can they improve?

The way UCLA is playing, it can contend for the Pac-10 title if
nothing changes. But the Bruins won’t win it unless they get
more contribution from their bench.

Four of UCLA’s five starters are averaging over 30 minutes
a game, and that number doesn’t look to be decreasing any
time soon. Of the Bruins’ 73 points per game, their starters
account for 61 of them.

Among the bright spots off the bench for UCLA recently have been
freshman guard Lauren Pedersen and sophomore center Consuelo
Lezcano, who averaged 8.5 points per game over the weekend in
Washington.

The Bruins will need more consistent production from those two
as well as forward Emma Tautolo and guard Ortal Oren before their
bench can even have the slightest impact.

The X-factor

Injuries. Arizona State and Stanford ““ two of the other
Pac-10 contenders ““ can be without a key player for a week or
two, but UCLA really can’t.

Losing any of their starters, especially Blue, would be
devastating to the Bruins, who rely immensely on the starting five.
In its lone game without Blue, UCLA lost by more than 20 points to
a top-15 Ohio State team.

The Bruins don’t want to experience that again.

Having to play an extended stretch of their schedule without
Blue would likely derail any Pac-10 championship hopes the Bruins
have, and put their postseason hopes in jeopardy. Losing Noelle
Quinn or Lisa Willis would be nearly as disastrous.

Mark it down on the calendar

Next Thursday, at No. 4 Stanford. Before UCLA can stake its
claim as the conference’s best team, it must beat the team
that currently owns that title.

Their first opportunity will come next week at Maples Pavilion,
a venue that historically has not been kind to the Bruins.

Six times UCLA has given the Cardinal all it could handle the
past two years, and each time Stanford found a way to break the
Bruins’ hearts. Nicole Powell has moved on to the WNBA, so
she will not be burying any game-changing 30-footers this
season.

That means the time is now. The Bruins need to end their streak
of futility against the Cardinal otherwise they will forever be
fighting for second place.

The road ahead

We’ll know exactly where UCLA stands after its next three
games ““ a homestand against the Arizona schools and a road
game at Stanford.

The conference slate has been extremely favorable for the Bruins
thus far, but that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of
slaying any of the Pac-10 giants.

Ask Texas or Purdue whether UCLA can beat a good team. They can,
they have, and they will. Well, at least at home.

Is this Bruin team the Pac-10’s best? They’re still
probably a year away. but expect UCLA to finally beat Stanford,
finish in the top three in the conference, and be an extremely
tough matchup come tournament time.

Then next year, when they return everyone and add heralded guard
Ashlee Trebilcock, look out.

Compiled by Jeff Eisenberg, Bruin Sports senior
staff.