Women’s basketball hones late-season mindset for Senior Weekend

As the passes fly around the court, the players off the ball are performing the moves they’ve just rehearsed – screens, cuts – now with the scout team resisting every step. Then, a hesitation, a failure to follow through on the plan, perhaps a lack of effort.

The whistle blows. The drill stops. Moments later, the entire team is running suicides.

The UCLA women’s basketball team may be in late season form, with nine wins in its last 11 games, but the pervading message is clear – get better. There are no let-offs in practice. Room for error is small, as the coaches and players are honing in on the team’s hiccups to eliminate them.

“We’re right there,” said UCLA head coach Cori Close. “We’ve done a lot things well and we’ve grown, but honestly there’s a lot of ways we can still get better.”

Currently sitting at No. 14 in the AP Top 25 Poll the Bruins are well aware of the challenge that awaits them. They know ironing out the kinks in their collective games is a must if they want to make a run for the Pac-12 Tournament Championship and go deep into the NCAA Tournament.

“Our mindset is always to get better,” said senior guard Nirra Fields. “We’re focusing on the things we haven’t been as good at, so we can prepare for the tournament.”

Ideally, UCLA wants a top-16 finish in the final polls, so they can host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Kacy Swain injury

One player, however, who will miss out on the coming weeks’ games is senior forward Kacy Swain. She injured her knee last Sunday against Oregon State and is unable to practice for the time being.

“We’ll miss Kacy for a couple of games, but we fully expect her to rejoin the team,” Close said.

Junior guard Kari Korver was also very optimistic about her teammate’s recovery.

“We’ll see her back in the NCAA Tournament,” Korver said. “That’s what we’re hopeful for.”

In the meantime, there will be big shoes to fill down in the UCLA post. The options include sophomore forward Lajahna Drummer, sophomore forward Paulina Hersler, sophomore guard Kelli Hayes and freshman guard Kennedy Burke.

“It’s an opportunity for other players to step up,” Close said. “I call it ‘being my sister’s keeper.’ If one sister goes down or we have a personnel change, I’m my sister’s keeper, and I know how to pick up the slack.”

Senior Weekend

As the regular season winds to a close, the Bruins will honor the players who have spent their last four years competing in the gold and blue.

“It’s exciting that it’s Senior Weekend,” Korver said. “We get to play hard for Kacy and for Nirra as well.”

Fields expressed different emotions regarding her last regular season home game for the Bruins.

“It’s bittersweet,” Fields said. “I’m happy that I get to move onto the next stage of my life, but I’m also sad because I made a lot of memories here. I’m going to miss it.”

In addition to the seniors on the Bruins’ active roster – Swain and Fields – Lauren Holiday will be honored as well. She is the sister of former UCLA and current New Orleans Pelican star Jrue Holiday and current UCLA point guard Aaron Holiday. She would have been a senior, but was forced to retire two seasons ago after suffering repeated concussions.

“Lauren Holiday may be medically retired, but she’s a member of this program,” Close said. “We value the contributions she has made and continues to make, so we are looking forward to honoring her as a member of the women’s basketball program.”