When it seems as though nothing can go right, the adage, “When itrains, it pours” is often muttered. Right now it appears as thoughthe San Diego State women’s basketball team is in the middle of amonsoon.
Through six games this season, SDSU is 1-5. And if dropping fiveof their first six contests wasn’t bad enough, the Aztecs have totravel to Los Angeles tonight to take on No. 8 UCLA.
With the Bruins, SDSU will not only have to deal with a greatsquad, they will have to do so on the road.
Howtough might that be?
Last year, the Aztecs won just one of their 12 road games.Additionally, they will have to play in one of the West Coast’stoughest venues — the venerable Pauley Pavilion. To make mattersworse, UCLA was 13-3 on its home floor.
So the question remains: Will SDSU be able to get up for thismeeting?
“I think so,” said Aztecs coach Barb Smith. “We’re looking at itmore as just another opportunity to get better. UCLA has been beat;they’re 2-2. And they go about eight deep.”
Yes, they have been beat — by No. 3 Louisiana Tech and No. 2Tennessee. But in their other two games, the Bruins knocked off No.26 Texas and No. 11 North Carolina.
And yes, they go about eight deep. Currently, they have sixplayers averaging more than eight points per game.
Most notably has been 6-foot-3 senior Maylana Martin. Through fourgames this season, the All-American forward is leading the team inscoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg). But although Martin isthe star, UCLA has two other frontcourt players capable of takingover a game.
Six-foot-4, 250-pound center Janae Hubbard is a force in thepaint, and senior Marie Philman gets it done from the other forwardspot. Hubbard, who once tallied 11 blocks in a high school game, isaveraging 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. And Philman isaveraging 8.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
While they do not receive the amount of national attention as theBruins, SDSU also boasts a formidable frontcourt.
Center Mary Apiafi is having a breakout year, leading the team inscoring (16 ppg), rebounding (9.7) and has posted threedouble-doubles.
Completing the Aztecs’ starting frontcourt are forwards AnitaBundage and Atim Otii. Together, they have combined to average 17.5points and 12.9 rebounds in the team’s first six games.
Last season, SDSU and UCLA faced each other for the first time insix years. And even though much has changed from a year ago, thepregame situations between this and last year are remarkably similar.
To start, the Aztecs hosted the Bruins almost exactly a year ago.In addition, the teams tipped off their meeting last season with UCLAranked eighth and SDSU having suffered five losses.
One thing the Aztecs hope this year’s matchup will yield adifferent result. Last Dec. 11, the Bruins annihilated them 104-56.
