WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL : USC’s Effort in Losing to Washington Leaves Miller Fuming

When she became USC’s women’s basketball coach 18 months ago, Cheryl Miller really didn’t expect to have players as talented as she had been.

She did, however, expect them to play as hard as she had played.

On Sunday afternoon, they didn’t. USC lost a key Pacific 10 game to Washington, 75-72, before 690 at the Lyons Center and Miller was steamed.

Before entering her team’s post-game meeting room, she punched a bulletin board-on-wheels, uttered an expletive and then conducted a team meeting at full volume.

“What this team needs are things I can’t coach,” she said later. “It’s about heart and effort, just getting it done.”

The Trojans (13-6) are fourth in the league at 6-5. Washington is 19-5, 9-2.

UCLA 71, Washington State 57--Nickey Hilbert scored 15 points to lead the Bruins (8-12, 3-8) past Washington State (11-9, 4-7) at the Wooden Center.