The Pressure’s On UCLA Freshman

And so it has come down to this: UCLA’s women’s basketball team is at the gates to the Final Four and a 5-foot-9 freshman will be asked tonight to show her team the way to San Jose.

Michelle Greco, who turns 19 Wednesday, became UCLA’s starting point guard 25 seconds into her team’s 77-68 victory Saturday night over Colorado State in the NCAA West Regional semifinal. That’s when junior starter Erica Gomez went out because of a sprained ankle.

For tonight’s West championship game against Louisiana Tech at the Sports Arena, Gomez will be taped and suited up, but Sunday all indications were she would be a doubtful participant tonight.

Louisiana Tech Coach Leon Barmore, who wants to take his team to the Final Four for the ninth time and the second year in a row, indicated Sunday he’d rather face a physically sound Gomez after Greco’s brilliant performance against Colorado State.

Greco played nearly 40 minutes, constantly battling Colorado State’s pressure defense and running the floor game for UCLA (26-7) almost flawlessly.

“To me, that little girl was the MVP of the game,” Barmore said.

“She comes off the bench and plays 39 minutes with those Colorado State players hollerin’ and screamin’ in her face and had two turnovers.”

Greco, a widely recruited playmaker from Crescenta Valley High School, had averaged 25 minutes a game, spelling starting guards Gomez and LaCresha Flannigan.

Coach Kathy Olivier, trying to lift some of the pressure from her freshman, said Sunday she doesn’t consider her a freshman anymore. “Michelle has seen a lot of minutes against some very good teams, and she has an entire regular season behind her,” she said.

“In my mind, she’s a sophomore.”

Isn’t this too much of a load for an 18-year-old, being asked to lead a team to the Final Four--and during finals week? She has a final exam Wednesday night.

She didn’t seem to think so.

“I just have to do what Erica does,” Greco said.

“When I’m on the bench, I watch everything she does, learning. She’s one of the best point guards in the nation, so I just have to get in there, not turn the ball over, make smart decisions.”

Louisiana Tech (29-2) reached the West title game by routing Louisiana State in Saturday’s first semifinal, 73-52, its 21st victory in a row. The Lady Techsters are strong, fast and play a tough pressure defense, and Greco will be in their cross hairs tonight.

Olivier wants to minimize Louisiana Tech’s running game, stay out of foul trouble and take care of the ball.

“We had less than 20 turnovers [17] against Colorado State, and they pressed us hard,” she said.

She’d also like a second straight superlative game out of her center, Maylana Martin, who had 16 rebounds and 11 points Saturday and seemed to supply instant leadership when Gomez went out. Janae Hubbard had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and UCLA outrebounded the Rams, 52-36.

Barmore said all the right things: “We need absolutely our best basketball game of the season to beat UCLA--anything less than that and UCLA will go to the Final Four.”

Barmore had said Friday he wanted to be in L.A. for the Academy Awards. Louisiana Tech’s hotel is a few blocks from the Music Center and he compared that scene to Ruston, La., where Tech is located.

“Nothing that exciting ever happens in Ruston,” he said.

“One time Robert Parrish drove through our town and got a speeding ticket. Another time, Deion Sanders bought something in our sporting goods store.

“That’s about it.”

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Today’s games

NCAA Division I regional finals

WEST

At Sports Arena

Louisiana Tech (29-2) vs.

UCLA (26-7), 9 p.m.

EAST

At Greensboro, N.C.

Tennessee (31-2) vs.

Duke (27-6), 6 p.m.

MIDEAST

At Cincinnati

Iowa State (25-7) vs.

Georgia (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

MIDWEST

At Normal, Ill.

Purdue (31-1) vs.

Rutgers (29-5), 4 p.m.