Greco rolls on
A minor disappointment for UCLA guard Michelle Greco on Sunday
was overshadowed by the accomplishment of much larger feats.
Though Greco missed her first free throw of the game to end her
streak at 20 and her chances at chasing Denise Curry’s school
record of 24, she improved her Pac-10 lead in scoring by putting up
23 points in an emotional 65-53 victory over USC on Sunday.
The junior now leads the conference with a 19.1 clip overall,
while averaging 21 points per game against Pac-10 opponents. Greco
has already scored 20 points seven times this season and has led
the Bruins in scoring in all but two games, one when she was
sidelined with an ankle injury and the other when she did not play
against Washington State due to illness.
She also ranks first in free throw percentage at 88.4 percent
(38-43), fourth in steals (2.23 per game) and fifth in three-point
goals made (1.69 per game).
A whole new game
A major factor in UCLA’s second win of the season was the
implementation of a more aggressive defense that emphasized
UCLA’s quickness on the perimeter and kept USC’s strong
post players at bay.
Heading into a more challenging weekend against the Arizona
schools, UCLA’s defense continues to be its strength. UCLA
leads the Pac-10 in steals with an average of 11.36 swipes per game
(159 total), and three Bruins are currently among the
conference’s top 10. Michelle Greco paces the Bruins with an
average of 2.23 per game (29 total), and freshman Gennifer Arranaga
and sophomore Natalie Nakase are tied for ninth with 1.86 (26).
Greco online chat session
UCLA’s Pac-10 scoring leader Michelle Greco will be the
featured guest today in the Pac-10 chat room at 4:30 p.m. The
junior guard will be fielding questions from fans about aspects of
her game, her career and other concerns. Fans can submit questions
to Greco in advance, and they will be saved until the live chat
begins. A full transcript of the chat will be posted on the
Pac-10’s Web page: www.pac-10.org.
Kaczmarski to transfer to Georgia
Former UCLA point guard Nicole Kaczmarski, who sat out the
beginning of the season with a foot injury, made public her
transfer to Georgia this week after several weeks of consideration.
The sophomore chose the transfer so she could be closer to her
family in New York.
Pac-10 game of the week
Two of the Pac-10’s top teams will match up on Thursday
when the Oregon Ducks (10-3, 3-0 Pac-10) travel to Washington to
take on the third-place Huskies (10-4, 3-1). The game will pose an
interesting matchup featuring the conference’s top shooting
team (Oregon, .487 field goal percentage) versus the
conference’s top rebounding team (Washington, 45.4 rpg).
Arizona and Oregon are the only two teams in the Pac-10 with
undefeated conference records.
Notes compiled by Joshua Mason, Daily Bruin Reporter.