UCLA Wants to Keep a Lid on Nordgaard’s Inside Game

UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier said her team’s task in Saturday’s NCAA tournament opener against Wisconsin Green Bay at Pauley Pavilion is to contain the nation’s sixth-best shooter, Chari Nordgaard.

The 6-foot-2 Phoenix center is shooting 64.2% from the floor and scoring 22.4 points a game, 11th in the NCAA.

“They look to get the ball inside to her a lot, and they also set screens and shoot threes well, so they’ll probably keep us honest defensively,” Olivier said.

And speaking of threes: UCLA’s Melanie Pearson has made one in each of her last eight games.

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Cal State Northridge (21-7) blew through the Big Sky Conference with an up-tempo, pressure style its opponents were unaccustomed to seeing. In Colorado State (31-2) on Friday night, the Matadors faces a team much like itself.

Guards are the strength of both teams. Northridge sophomore Edniesha Curry, a two-time All-Big Sky choice, averages 18 points on an assortment of penetrating shots, transition layups and three-point shots.

The Rams have Becky Harmon, a three-time Western Athletic Conference player of the year who averages 24 points, is shooting 51% and has made 106 three-point baskets.

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Another up-tempo team is Southwest Missouri State (24-6), which will play UC Santa Barbara (26-3) Friday at Fort Collins, Colo. Southwest Missouri State guard Jackie Stiles, who averages 24.6 points, will be matched against Erin Buescher, who averages 19.7 points, has 78 steals and 100 assists. Santa Barbara, the Big West Conference champion, has a 21-game winning streak.

First-round Games

Wisconsin Green Bay (19-9) at UCLA (23-7)

Saturday, 9 p.m. PST, ESPN

Cal State Northridge (21-7) at Colorado State (31-2)

Friday, 9 p.m. PST, ESPN2