UCLA women’s basketball team isn’t letting No. 1 ranking go to their heads

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA women’s basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in program history, but little has changed for the Bruins.

“I really felt no different because we already saw ourselves as a No. 1 team,” head coach Cori Close told reporters Wednesday. “We already saw ourselves in that light and so it didn’t matter what other people said or what number was attached. We view ourselves in that kind of company.”

UCLA upset No. 4 South Carolina, the previous top team, on Sunday afternoon at a sold-out Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins (5-0) outperformed the Gamecocks in almost every facet of the game and yet they only see room for improvement as they head into this weekend’s Rainbow Wahine Showdown hosted by the University of Hawai’i.

The team left Wednesday after holding a morning practice and will play UT Martin, Fresno State and Hawai’i in Honolulu from Friday through Sunday.

Close said nine players were in the gym getting work in Tuesday at 6:40 a.m., just two days after the South Carolina game.

“That told me what I needed to know about where their vision really is and where their aspirations lie,” Close said. “(Junior) Gabriela Jaquez said, ‘It makes me so excited that we were able to play at such a high level and we have so much more we need to grow in.’”

Defensive rebounding, transition defense, communication and off-ball rotations are four areas for improvement for the Bruins this weekend. They committed 16 turnovers against South Carolina and Close wants to keep that number less than 12.

UCLA is the No. 6 team nationally in terms of overall rebounding with 49.2 rebounds per game. The Bruins rank 13th in offensive rebounds (17.6) and 11th in defensive rebounds per game (31.6).

“We’re only in the 74th percentile in defensive rebounding,” Close said. “With our size and our depth, it should not be that way. So we’ve got a lot still to work on.”

Center Lauren Betts was named to the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll after she compiled 11 points and 14 rebounds against the Gamecocks for her third consecutive double-double.

The 6-foot-7 junior was seen at practice Wednesday practicing her 3-point shot, since the coaching staff wants her to be a confident and consistent shooter from 15 feet out. She’s also working on using her left hand more effectively and keeping the ball up as she gets double- and triple-teamed in every game.

The attention she draws from opposing players frees up her teammates. Four players in addition to Betts scored in double figures against South Carolina: Londynn Jones (15), Elina Aarnisalo, Kiki Rice (11) and Jaquez (11).

UCLA has three games in three days in Hawaii and will not have practices before each individual game – just some walkthroughs in the hotel. Studying and executing a scouting report in a short amount of time will be critical to the Bruins’ success.

Close loves the challenge of a tournament setting.

“The turnaround and opportunity helps us prepare at a championship level as a habit,” she said. “It’s mostly mental preparation and create our own urgency. Not to believe our own press clippings, but how do we get better this week and stay focused.”

Instead of practicing Thursday, the team will be spending Thanksgiving Day with a community of underprivileged kids as part of a service activity the program has planned.

“We’re prioritizing serving others and being thankful and enjoying Hawaii,” Close said. “And being ready to put our business hats and hard hats on on Friday for the game.”