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  JORDAN ROSS Junior Michelle Greco drives past the University of San Diego defense in a game earlier this season in which UCLA lost 86-67.

By Scott Schultz

Daily Bruin Contributor Don’t let the UCLA women’s basketball team’s record fool you into thinking this transition season is going to be a washout. There is plenty of gas in this team’s tank as they prepare to finish up their non-conference schedule and begin their Pac-10 season. “They’re a great group. The team chemistry is great,” head coach Kathy Olivier said about the young roster that she’s played in the early going of the season. “They take care of each other and they’re working toward a common goal of getting better.” The Bruins (0-6) are practicing hard, filled with confidence as the fall quarter comes to a close. They await the imminent return of two of this year’s starters, senior LaCresha Flannigan, who is academically ineligible for fall quarter, and sophomore Nicole Kaczmarski, who declined to enroll while recovering in New York from a foot injury she suffered during the summer. “With LaCresha, we won’t know until the grades are posted in the computers,” Olivier said. “She feels very optimistic, she’s been coming to games, and she’s really anxious to get back in the mix. “With Kaz, the reality is if she’s not 100 percent we’re not going to put her in a position to start playing, but we hope to have her on our trip to Old Dominion and Ohio State,” Olivier added. “She’s someone who can take over a game and she’s someone who wants everyone to lean on her.” The Bruins are also excited about the addition of two multi-sport athletes who will be joining the team next quarter after their fall sport seasons end. Kristee Porter, a redshirt sophomore who lettered in track and field and is an All-American volleyball player, will add big-time athleticism to the front court and should make an immediate impact. Joining her will be freshman forward Whitney Jones, who was a starting midfielder for the Bruin soccer team, which went to the NCAA Championship game last week. “Kristee is an incredible athlete with a winning attitude whose volleyball skills will help us on the basketball court,” Olivier said. “She’s going to create problems for opponents with her athleticism. Besides her jumping ability, she has great timing, so she can block shots.” The Bruins were expected to be a young team this year, with the graduation of four of last year’s five starters along with their backup center. But the additional roster alterations left the team lacking any experience at all besides junior guard Greco, who was an impact player off the bench last season. The Bruins, for all the sacrifice they made in the record books this season, will suddenly find themselves with a deep bench who will have plenty of playing experience against the nation’s elite programs. The Bruins are currently playing a perimeter-based game behind the explosive offense of Greco, who has carried the bulk of the offensive load this season, averaging 17.8 ppg. She is joined in the starting backcourt by redshirt sophomore point guard Natalie Nakase and sophomore Jalina “A.J.” Bradley. Freshman Gennifer Arranaga has been providing instant impact off the bench with her high-energy style of play. “I think Greco has done a great job and Natalie Nakase has played (amazingly) considering she is someone who hardly played at all last year,” Olivier said. “Gennifer Arranaga is also playing excellent and she’s going to keep getting better because she works her tail off and is a real perfectionist.” The front court has thus far been led by a trio of athletic junior college transfers from Texas. Juniors Malika Leatham and Shalada “She-She” Allen split time in the post. They are both small for the center position, but are quicker than most post players, and their impact will be greater after the return of Flannigan and Kaczmarski. Another Texan, Stacy Robertson, will provide some height along the perimeter. The Texans are joined by sophomore Natalie Jarrett, who is fully recovered from a fractured foot that limited her playing time last season, and freshman Jamila Veasly, who is able to play all front court positions. The Pac-10, always one of the most competitive conferences in the country, is once again filled with top-ranked teams. Currently, Pac-10 competitors Stanford and Oregon are both ranked in the AP’s top 25 and Oregon State is still undefeated. “The Pac-10 is always one of the most competitive conferences,” Greco said. “There are never any easy games against teams from this conference.” Before they begin their conference season, the Bruins still have to finish their arduous non-conference schedule. They have to face national powers Old Dominion and Ohio State on the road and Georgia at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins next play on Sunday, Dec. 18 when they travel to Old Dominion to duel the Monarchs at 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Outcome/Time Nov. 6 Slovakia (Exh) W, 69-68 Nov. 10 Duke @ New Mexico L, 80-52 Nov. 11 @ New Mexico L, 75-54 Nov. 17 Utah L, 65-42 Nov. 19 Love & Basketball (Exh) L, 82-78 (ot) Nov. 25 @ BYU L, 68-53 Nov. 28 San Diego L, 86-67 Dec. 2 @ Colorado L, 88-63 Dec. 10 Long Beach State 2 p.m. Dec. 18 @ Old Dominion 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 @ Ohio State 7 p.m. Dec. 28 Pepperdine 7 p.m. Dec. 30 Georgia 4 p.m. Jan. 4 @ Washington 7 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Washington State 7 p.m. Jan. 14 USC 1 p.m. Jan. 18 Arizona State 7 p.m. Jan. 20 Arizona 4 p.m. Jan. 25 @ Oregon State 7 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Oregon 1 p.m. Jan. 2 Stanford 7 p.m. Feb. 4 California 3 p.m. Feb. 10 @ USC 2 p.m. Feb. 15 @ Arizona 7 p.m. Feb. 17 @ Arizona State 7 p.m. Feb. 23 Oregon 7 p.m. Feb. 25 Oregon State 2 p.m. March 1 @ California 7:30 p.m. March 3 @ Stanford 7:30 p.m. March 8 Washington State 7 p.m. March 10   Washington 1 p.m. SOURCE: UCLA Sports Info (schedule is tentative) Original graphic by VICTOR CHEN Web adaptation by CHRISTINE TAN/Daily Bruin