UCLA Shows Its Depth, Trounces Washington

Maylana Martin, the Pacific 10 Conference’s leading scorer, missed her second consecutive game, but her backup and roommate, Carly Funicello, had 17 rebounds and 16 points Saturday afternoon.

Funicello was only one of many contributors to another UCLA rout at Pauley Pavilion, a 100-70 blowout of Washington State.

Martin, meanwhile, was in her dorm room, following doctor’s orders: Bed rest until further notice in a effort to solve her migraine problem. She hasn’t practiced since Jan. 9, but Coach Kathy Olivier said she might be cleared to practice Monday, if she is headache-free.

“They’ve checked her thoroughly [at the UCLA Medical Center] and can’t find a reason for the headaches,” Martin’s mother, Mary, said at Saturday’s game.

UCLA (17-4, 9-0 in the Pac-10) easily ran away with its 10th consecutive win Saturday, matched against a team with no starter taller than 6 feet. The Bruins are perfect at the midway point of the Pac-10 schedule.

“Being 9-0 at this point is a great experience,” said the 6-foot-4 Funicello. “If we keep playing like this, there’s no doubt in my mind we can go 18-0.”

Next comes the toughest assignment so far, a Thursday game in Eugene against Oregon (16-4, 7-2).

“Oregon will really challenge us on the boards,” Olivier said. “We didn’t have to play against really big post players this week, but we will at Oregon.”

Funicello, Marie Philman and LaCresha Flannigan were the scoring leaders Saturday, before 1,748.

Funicello got her 16 points in only 24 minutes. In 32 minutes, Philman was 10 for 11 from the floor and scored 21 points. In two games against Washington and Washington State, she was a combined 20 for 24.

The 5-7 Flannigan, also a sprinter in track, is rapidly blossoming into a premier Pac-10 player. Her basketball foot speed is reminiscent of Marion Jones in her North Carolina basketball days.

Flannigan had a game-high 22 points Saturday, scoring twice on breakaways following midcourt steals, and showed again that she is the league’s best 5-7 rebounder, with four.

“LaCresha can jump up and grab the rim,” said Funicello. “She’s got incredible hops.”

Funicello had 17 boards, 15 of them defensive,

“Carly’s now getting position and clearing out space,” Olivier said.

“I’m going up for the rebound while the ball’s still in the air, and kind of backing into the player behind me while I do it,” Funicello said.

Point Erica Gomez’s numbers reflect the depth of Olivier’s team. She played only 18 minutes, but had five points and four assists. Gomez, a junior, is within 34 assists of Ann Meyers’ UCLA career record, achieved in four years.