Having established herself as the leader of the UCLA
women’s basketball team, Nikki Blue has assumed a lot of
responsibilities this season.
Blue, a Bakersfield native, added a new title over the weekend
when the Bruins traveled to Fresno State ““ that of host.
On the menu Saturday for No. 18 UCLA was a catered rib and
tri-tip sandwich lunch at Blue’s family restaurant in
Bakersfield, Bar-BQ Express, and a convincing 92-76 victory over
previously unbeaten Fresno State.
And it was Blue who led the Bruins in the dining room and on the
court.
“For me and my family, who are diehard Bruin fans, I
wanted the team to feel welcome in the Central Valley,” Blue
said.
“It was very important for me to have everyone I care
about most in life under one roof. That means my family and my
teammates.”
In front of a large contingent of her friends and family, Blue
broke loose on offense with a season-high 22 points, most coming in
the second half as the Bruins (6-1) pulled away from the Bulldogs
(6-1) for their sixth consecutive victory.
“Nikki started off a little slowly, but she picked it up
and was incredible,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said.
Hampered by a sore right ankle that she injured just before the
season, Blue had only been averaging 7.3 points a contest coming
into Saturday’s game, well below her career average.
But it’s not her scoring that is of most value to this
year’s Bruin team. Instead, it’s been her leadership
and dedication. Despite the pain in her ankle, Blue played a
game-high 38 minutes Saturday.
When the Bruins quickly fell behind 17-10 to Fresno State, it
was Blue who settled them. When they held a meager 39-38 halftime
lead, it was Blue and the coaches who knew they had the Bulldogs
right where they wanted them.
“We are a second-half team,” Blue said. “We
knew we were making them get tired. This team has an extra gear it
can go to at anytime.”
UCLA wasted no time in the second half to exploit Fresno
State’s tired legs, using a 19-5 run to open the half to bury
the Bulldogs. Though Fresno State did an admirable job in the first
half containing the Bruins’ “Triple Threat” of
Blue, Lisa Willis and Noelle Quinn, not allowing any of the three
to score in double figures, the trio broke loose in the final 20
minutes.
Quinn continued the dazzling start to her season, pouring in 21
points, her sixth consecutive game with at least 20 points, all
Bruin victories.
“In the first half, Fresno State was really
aggressive,” Quinn said. “In the second half, I think
they got tired, and we just got into a groove.”
But as well as Quinn and Blue played, it was Willis’
statline that was the most impressive of the night. Along with 18
points, the junior guard compiled 10 rebounds, seven assists and
six steals. With all three members of the Triple Threat at the peak
of their game, it spelled trouble for an up-and-coming Bulldog
team, who until Saturday night hadn’t even trailed at
halftime all season.
For the Bruins, the victory adds to an impressive resume that
already includes wins over perennial powers Texas and Purdue.
Though UCLA is only seven games into its season, the team appears
to be in mid-season form.
“We feel like we’re coaching them at the end of the
year right now,” Olivier said.
“They’re very focused, and it’s only seven
games into the season. This team thinks that it can beat anyone
right now. I’m not saying we can, but the team thinks it
can.”
While Saturday was the only official scheduled trip to Fresno on
the Bruins’ calendar, UCLA is hoping to make a return visit
later in the year. Fresno is one of the sites hosting the first two
rounds of the NCAA Tournament this season, the closest in proximity
to Westwood.
While it may be too soon to start thinking postseason, Blue has
done her part in making the Bruins feel like Fresno is their new
home away from home.
“It was a loving, positive atmosphere,” Quinn said.
“It felt like we were at home.”
“That’s the ideal situation if we come back to
Fresno,” Blue said. “There is no doubt we’d have
the homecourt advantage.”