NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin Senior guard Michelle
Greco dribbles past the opposition in the Bruins’ 96-66
win over the West Coast All-Stars this Sunday.
By Jackie Abellada
Daily Bruin Contributor
The women’s basketball squad closed its preseason schedule
with a 96-66 victory over the West Coast All-Stars on Sunday at
Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins led for most of the game. They made a series of runs,
including a 14-2 outburst with just under 12 minutes left in the
first half, to separate themselves from the visiting team, which
was made up of former college varsity athletes. The game was never
close after that, allowing UCLA head coach Kathy Olivier to extend
playing time to her bench players and freshmen.
Senior center Shalada Allen, came off the bench to lead the
Bruins with 22 points in only 25 minutes including 16 in the first
half. She also added nine rebounds.
“I’m just going to be there for my team and play my
role,” Allen said. “And by staying poised, staying
balanced, I think I can do just that.”
Gennifer Arranaga provided additional support from the bench,
scoring 14 points (6-of-11 from the field) in 23 minutes.
Olivier was impressed with the way her substitutes utilized
their playing time and feels her rotation is becoming more
clear.
“I feel really good about our starting five and having
Allen as our first post-up player off the bench and Gennifer as our
first perimeter player.”
Senior Michelle Greco, last year’s leading scorer in the
Pac-10 with 19.9 points per game, had an off-shooting afternoon,
going 4-of-16 from the field and scoring only 11 points. But what
she lacked in field goals, she made up in other departments,
finishing off the day with game-highs in assists with 10 and in
rebounds with 12 to complete a triple-double performance.
“This year is a lot different from last year’s
because I feel the weight is off my shoulders,” Greco said.
“I had the funnest time playing today, and I’d rather
have these types of games.”
Senior center Malika Leatham and junior point guard Natalie
Nakase also contributed to the victory, putting up 12 and 10 points
respectively.
The Bruins’ defense, a hold-over strength from last
season, was relentless, forcing the All-Stars to turn the ball over
30 times. The Bruins had 19 steals, five of which came from Jalina
Bradley.
“I like the fact we are going after basketballs. Last
year, we were just standing around,” Olivier said.
The All-Stars made a harmless 39 percent of their shots from the
field.
Olivier was also impressed by the hustling effort her squad has
shown in boxing out and rebounding. In the past two games, the
Bruins have out-rebounded their opponents 51-36 (against Slovakia)
and 69-40 (against the All-Stars).
Now the squad must prepare for their first game of the season
against the Liberty Flames at the Michigan State Tournament on Nov.
16.
Although the team still has a ways to go before becoming a
legitimate Pac-10 contender, after two decisive victories, Olivier
believes the Bruins’ future looks bright.
“They’re not great right now, but they’re
coming along,” she said.