USC, UCLA Women Open Pacific 10 Play Tonight
- Share via
The women’s basketball teams of USC and UCLA will start the real season tonight when they meet at 7 at Pauley Pavilion to open Pacific 10 Conference play.
The Trojans (6-4) have won three consecutive games after losing three in a row.
Freshman center Lisa Leslie, who is averaging a team-high 20.8 points and 13.6 rebounds a game, has been a major factor for the Trojans.
But most teams have been successful getting the 6-foot-5 Leslie into foul trouble--she averages only 27.3 minutes a game.
Rehema Stephens has led the Bruins in scoring in every game. Her 29.6-point average is second nationally to the 30.6 of Lisa McMullen of Alabama State. As a team, UCLA (5-5) is averaging 77.6 points. Stephens, at 5-11, also leads the Bruins in rebounds with an 8.6 average. They have not had much of an inside game.
The arrival of volleyball All-American Natalie Williams late last month has helped the Bruins, however. The 6-1 Williams scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds in her debut on Dec. 28 against Utah, and had 13 rebounds in her second game against James Madison.
Williams and 6-4 center Lynn Kamrath will be counted on to pressure Leslie on the inside.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
