USC, UCLA Pleasantly Surprising

Back in November it seemed to be a reasonable assumption that UCLA and USC would struggle in the Pacific 10 Conference because the conference was collectively stronger this season and both the Bruins and Trojans had young teams.

Three months later, the perspectives have changed. USC trails first-place Stanford by a half-game. UCLA is fifth, a half-game behind fourth-place Arizona State and 2 1/2 games behind Stanford. Both teams have three conference games left.

The Bruins also are on a five-game winning streak, currently the longest in the conference.

Both teams head north this weekend to play Stanford and California, the biggest games they have played in several years. A successful Bay Area trip would give each team a strong case to be included in the NCAA tournament field of 64, a tournament USC has not appeared in since 1997, and UCLA since 2000.

The Bruins and Trojans have reached this point because their teams have developed and improved faster than expected.

USC (14-9, 11-4), which has won seven of its last nine, has blended seven freshmen with its seven returning players. Nearly all of the youngsters have made contributions. Eshaya Murphy (6.4 points) can score if needed. Jamie Hagiya is the team’s assist leader with 62. Jamie Funn and Chloe Kerr can back up Ebony Hoffman and Rachel Woodward at forward, and the latter two have had an energy level late in games that was missing last season.

“With our freshman I’m seeing a toughness moving in along with the realization that you have to come to play every night,” Coach Chris Gobrecht said.

“The [nonconference] schedule was really good for the team to understand about close games and how you have to finish. Not that we’ve been stellar at it, but it has paid off. We don’t expect games to be easy or soft now. We’re realizing it gets harder as the year goes on. We’re OK with that. If that is a maturing process, then, yes, we’ve matured.”

UCLA (14-10, 9-6) has the Pac-10’s best freshman in Noelle Quinn, who is the conference’s fifth-leading scorer (15.7) and rebounder (7.2). She has been red hot during the Bruins’ streak, with five straight games of 20 or more points (breaking the school’s freshman record of four consecutive 20-point games set by Ann Meyers in 1975-76), and four games of double-figures in points and rebounds.

Sophomore Lisa Willis is averaging 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds, and has set a school single-season record for three-point baskets (56 and counting). Sophomore Nikki Blue averages 14.6 points and leads the conference in steals a game (3.3).

“I always thought this could be a good team, and it would be good later rather than earlier [in the season],” Coach Kathy Olivier said.

“Right now we’re playing the way we can. We take it one game at time and try not to put too much pressure on any one person. We have certain players who are a little more consistent, but [the winning] has been a team effort, and they feel that.”

USC gets the first crack at No. 10 Stanford on Thursday. The Trojans defeated the Cardinal in the Sports Arena on Jan. 25. But they have lost 15 of the last 16 on Stanford’s home floor, dating to the 1986-87 season. And they haven’t swept the Cardinal since the 1985-86 season.

“The [freshmen] know they can’t just sit and cheer,” Gobrecht said. “They have had ups and downs, but they’re very motivated to do well for the seniors. They feel a high level of commitment.”

UCLA plays Stanford on Saturday, but won’t -- can’t -- look beyond Thursday’s game against Cal, which has lost 10 in a row. “They always play us very hard,” Olivier said. “We’re not fooled by their record. We have to get this one first, and then see what we can do after that.”

Still, considering the championship droughts the teams are in -- USC’s only Pac-10 championship came in 1993-94, and UCLA’s lone conference title in 1998-99 (a tie with Oregon) -- to be involved in the race this late in the season is uplifting.

“To still be making a move in the conference,” Gobrecht said, “is a credit to how strong both teams have become.”