WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : UCLA, USC Open Play in Pacific 10

The USC and UCLA women’s basketball teams begin Pacific 10 Conference competition tonight in the Northwest.

USC (7-1) opens at Oregon State (8-2), and UCLA (5-4) plays at Oregon (6-3). The Trojans and Bruins switch opponents Saturday.

USC had won six consecutive games before losing to No. 2-ranked Iowa last Thursday, 50-49, on a disputed, last-second three-point shot after leading most of the game.

UCLA’s best outing was an 88-78 overtime victory over Rutgers on Monday. Bruin All-American Natalie Williams had a career-high 35 points, making 15 of 20 shots, and also had 15 rebounds. USC didn’t believe the running three-pointer by Iowa’s Necole Tunsil beat the final horn, as both officials ruled. Apparently, however, Coach Cheryl Miller has bounced back from the disappointment.

“The Iowa game is over and done with,” she said. “There’s nothing we can do about it. It was good to know we can compete with the No. 2 team in the country.”

In addition to 6-foot-5 senior All-American Lisa Leslie playing the best basketball of her career, the Trojans’ hallmark has been depth. Eleven players are averaging at least 10 minutes per game.

Even Leslie has had help in reserve from 6-5 freshman Michelle Campbell.

UCLA’s Williams has had help from 6-5 sophomore Zrinka Kristich, whose rebounding and scoring are both markedly up from last season. Kristich is averaging seven rebounds per game, but had 11 against Rutgers and 10 in a victory at North Carolina Charlotte.

Amy Jalewalia, a 6-1 senior forward/guard, is averaging 15.6 points. Against Rutgers, after going scoreless in the first half, she scored 11 in the second half and eight in overtime.

UCLA is missing one element, however--Williams’ free-throw touch. Last season, she made 74.8% of her free throws. This season, she has made 50.8%.

Stanford, Pac-10 champion the last three seasons, opens conference play at Washington tonight and at Washington State on Saturday night.

The Cardinal is 7-2, losing only to national champion Texas Tech at Lubbock and to No. 1 Tennessee at Palo Alto. Anita Kaplan and Rachel Hemmer are leading Stanford with 16.6- and 15.3-point averages.