Bruins Traveling Uphill Road

UCLA appears headed for another bleak season, especially now that star guard Michelle Greco is sidelined because of a series of concussions. The Bruins (3-7, 0-2 in Pacific 10 Conference play), with little size and limited scoring ability, may be hard pressed to match the six victories they had in 2000-01.

Coach Kathy Olivier, in the second season of rebuilding her program, said, “The frustration level is high,” after weekend losses to Oregon and Oregon State stretched UCLA’s skid to six games. The Bruins have never won fewer than three games in Pac-10 play. That is a distinct possibility this season.

“You gotta know that this is a group that wants to win,” Olivier said.

If there is a growing tension among the players, they are doing their best to hide it. Their on-court body language suggests they are still listening to the coaching staff, and doing the best they can.”Right now, we’re trying to find our chemistry without Michelle in the lineup,” said Kristee Porter, who scored 38 points against Oregon and Oregon State.

“With her, everything flowed so much more smoothly. Now we have to really work for our shots and execute the offense. You don’t want to be content with playing hard; you want to win basketball games. I do believe we’re on the verge of breaking through this mental slump we’re in. I still think we’re close to being a good basketball team.”

Despite the prospect of consecutive single-digit victory seasons for the first time in school history, Olivier--in her ninth season--appears in no danger of losing her job.

There was tacit understanding around Westwood that restocking the Bruins would take time. And the 2002 recruiting class, led by heralded Bakersfield West High guard Anitra “Nikki” Blue, considered one of the top 30 high school seniors in the country, is expected to be one of Olivier’s best.

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This is what awaits Cal State Northridge on Thursday when the Matadors (0-7) play at top-ranked Connecticut:

The Huskies (11-0) are winning by an average of 36.1 points. Against top-25 opponents, only third-ranked Oklahoma got within 14 points, losing Saturday, 86-72.

Northridge, which lost, 60-56, to Portland State Saturday, already has changed coaches. Ken Turner and Paula Nirschl-Montgomery took over for Frozena Jerro, who resigned Dec. 8.

Here’s hoping whatever money Northridge is getting is worth the trip, and the sure beating.

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Her weekend in L.A. had more meaning to Oregon senior guard Edniesha Curry than just opening the Pac-10 season.

It was an emotional homecoming for Curry, who played at Palmdale High and Northridge before transferring to Oregon midway through the 1999-2000 season.

On hand at the UCLA game were her father, Edward, who lives in Sylmar, and Palmdale Coach George Corisis. Neither had seen her play for nearly two years.

Curry , who helped Northridge earn an NCAA tournament berth in 1998-99, scored 22 points against the Bruins. But she strained her left heel warming up before the USC game two days later, and limped around for six points in 10 minutes.

“I tried my best to come in and do the job. But when you have an injury like this, it hurts my explosiveness,” Curry said.

Nonetheless, she is enjoying life in Eugene.

“It was definitely a little scary when I left Northridge, knowing I only had one [season of eligibility] left,” she said.

“But just seeing the kind of influence and impact I have on this team makes it all worth it. It feels good to be an influential kind of player. That’s important to me, and I love this team.”

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Staff writer Lauren Peterson contributed to this report.