Friday, February 7, 1997
W. HOOPS:
Bruins cruise into Stanford game with two straight victoriesBy
A. CinQue Carter
Daily Bruin Contributor
BERKELEY, Calif. — The up and down Bruins are riding high
tonight after a 82-56 Pac-10 conference victory over the California
Golden Bears in Harmon Gym.
The Golden Bears, coming off a 95-41 loss to Stanford last week,
fought hard but fell short for the second time this season. While
the outcome of this game increased Cal’s losing streak to five
games, the Bruins (10-9, 4-6) have now won two games in a row for
the first time in conference play.
Last night UCLA showed the realization of its potential for one
of the first times this season. Bruin players have said all season
that they were better than their record showed. They held true to
that notion on Thursday.
Before 846 loyal fans, the Golden Bears (6-13, 2-8 Pac-10)
jumped out to an early 14-3 lead paced by Patrycja Czepiec, who
scored 14 first-half points in the first 3:50 of the game. Included
in Czepiec’s stat line were three of Cal’s first-half six
three-pointers.
UCLA, however had weapons of its own. Freshmen Takiyah Jackson
and Melanie Pearson scored 11 and 13 points respectively to help
give the Bruins a 38-33 halftime lead. The Golden Bears were able
to keep it close by neutralizing Maylana Martin, who had zero shot
attempts before intermission, and Tawana Grimes, who got in early
foul trouble and only played seven minutes in the first frame.
Twenty Bruin first-half turnovers didn’t help UCLA’s cause
either.
The second half started off much like the first, with Czepiec
hitting two quick treys, but Grimes scored her first bucket and
Pearson hit one as well to keep the Bears honest. After Aisha
Veasley got her fourth steal of the game and scored a bucket,
Martin finally got her first field goal at the 16:41 mark.
Foul trouble continued for the Bruins, though, as freshman Carly
Funicello went to the bench with four fouls and 12:35 remaining.
UCLA made do without Funicello, going on a 26-6 run to put the game
out of reach. Crucial to Bruin domination were Veasley, who played
every minute while the game was still in question; freshman Marie
Philman, who got her hand on every loose ball and errant pass; and
Pearson, who finished with a career-high and team season-high five
treys.
Now the Bruins ready themselves to face the class of their
conference.
On Saturday night at 7:30, the Bruins will step into the
hallowed halls of Maples Pavilion, wherein the Stanford Cardinal
has won 53 Pac-10 games in a row and 43 games in a row overall. The
Cardinal defeated second-place USC (14-5, 8-2) Thursday to maintain
its stranglehold on first place in the Pac-10.
If UCLA were to finally break through at Stanford (22-1, 10-0),
it would mark the first time in nine years such an event has
occurred. Even if it doesn’t happen, as long as the Bruins are
competitive, they feel they can still make waves in the conference.
Winning two of their last three and soon to be returning home for
revenge against the Arizona schools, UCLA is expecting to move up
in the standings soon. Said head coach Kathy Olivier, "It was good
to start off with a win. Now, maybe we can get two."