UCLA Must Win Without Quinn

The temptation is great for a team in need to call on its best player to bounce back from injury and give it a lift. The need for a lift is just as great for the player, who is doing everything possible to get back on the court.

But Coach Kathy Olivier said don’t expect forward Noelle Quinn -- UCLA’s best player before being sidelined because of a knee injury Jan. 16 -- to play this weekend in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament in San Jose.

Quinn, a sophomore, tore cartilage in her left knee during the Bruins’ game against Arizona. She underwent arthroscopic surgery and has been diligent in her rehabilitation efforts.

But although the Bruins may need a late push to secure an NCAA tournament berth, Olivier is mindful that Quinn has two years of eligibility after this season, and she will not rush her back.

Especially in a tournament where UCLA would have to play three games in three days to win it and get the conference’s automatic NCAA bid.

“The best scenario would be to have her for the NCAA tournament,” Olivier said Thursday.

“She’s off her crutches and she has been working hard in her therapy. She’s even doing a few things on the court. But we’re not going to rush her. I want her back healthy.”

Quinn was leading UCLA in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (7.1) at the time of her injury. With her in the lineup, the Bruins were leading the Pac-10 at 5-1. Without her, UCLA finished sixth with a 10-8 record.

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The tournament opens today with first-round games, Washington versus Oregon State and California versus Washington State.

History is not on the side of the Beavers. No 10th-seeded team has won a game in the previous three tournaments. Then again, Washington State was the 10th-seeded team all three years.

The Cougars moved to No. 9 this season, and can be encouraged by the fact the ninth-seeded team has defeated the eighth-seeded team twice.

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UCLA’s Nikki Blue and Lisa Willis have been named to the All Pac-10 team. It was the third selection for Blue and first for Willis.

Joining them were Stanford’s Brooke Smith, Kelley Suminski and Candice Wiggins; Arizona’s Shawntinice Polk and Dee-Dee Wheeler; Arizona State’s Emily Westerberg and Oregon’s Andrea Bills and Cathrine Kraayeveld.

Wiggins was named the conference freshman of the year and conference player of the year, the first freshman to win both honors in the same season. Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer was named coach of the year.

USC’s Brynn Cameron and UCLA’s Lindsey Pluimer were named to the all-freshman team.

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Schedule

Pacific 10 Conference women’s basketball tournament at HP Pavilion, San Jose.

TODAY’S FIRST ROUND

* No. 7 Washington (13-15) vs. No. 10 Ore- gon State (6-22), 6 p.m.

* No. 8 California (10-17) vs. No. 9 Washington State (6-21), 8:15 p.m.

SATURDAY’S QUARTERFINALS

* No. 3 Arizona State (20-8) vs. No. 6 UCLA (16-11), 11 a.m.

* No. 2 Oregon (19-8) vs. Washington or Ore- gon State, 1:15 p.m.

* No. 1 Stanford (26-2) vs. California or Washington State, 5 p.m.

* No. 4 USC (18-9) vs. No. 5 Arizona (19-10), 7:15 p.m.

Semifinals, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:05 p.m.

Championship, Monday, 7:30 p.m.