remembers the sensation. The bitter feelings she felt sitting on the coaching desk in UCLA’s locker room in Albany, N.Y., whereas processing yet one more Candy 16 loss.
A 12 months later the shock has worn off, however the disappointment has remained. ’s star level guard desires to make her third journey to the NCAA regional semifinal the attraction.
“Popping out right here the final two occasions and never having received actually is a bitter style in all our mouths,” Rice mentioned. “[We learned] the additional competitiveness and vitality that we’ll play with as a result of we don’t wish to have that very same feeling once more.”
UCLA, which can face No. 5 seed Mississippi at 7 p.m. Friday at Spokane Area, is within the Candy 16 for the seventh time within the final 10 years. After the Bruins (32-2) within the second spherical, their celebration was business-like. They shortly assembled within the handshake line then walked across the court docket to salute their house followers.
An look through the second weekend of the NCAA match is now “an expectation” for this system, coach mentioned after the second spherical.
“We’re going to have habits that lead us to these locations,” she added, “and now we’ve received to push the envelope.”
UCLA has reached the NCAA Elite Eight solely twice and never since 2018. This system’s first top-rated recruiting class — led by present WNBA veterans Jordin Canada and Monique Billings — anchored the historic season that introduced the Bruins to the regional last for the primary time since 1999.
This system’s second No. 1 recruiting class is able to go even additional. Rice, and shaped the core of the group that pushed South Carolina to the brink twice as freshmen. That season, a Candy 16 run that ended in opposition to No. 1-seeded South Carolina felt like an overachievement. A disappointment in opposition to Louisiana State as sophomores was a mandatory motivational setback.
Gamers remembered how uncomfortable LSU made them through the 78-69 loss once they lined up throughout spring exercises to run via a set for the umpteenth time. They set their alarm clocks for early morning exercises. Coaches, managers and scout crew members arrived early and stayed late to rebound.
Shut known as this crew “the hardest-working group I’ve ever had an opportunity to be round as a collective complete.”
“Our crew actually understands that each one the work that we’ve put in since we misplaced the final Candy 16 is making use of now,” Jaquez mentioned. “It’s actually laborious to see that at the moment as a result of it’s so far-off however in actuality, it’s going to use. … We perceive that all of us needed to individually get higher, and as a crew, collectively get higher and perceive that we don’t like that feeling and we are able to change it so let’s try this.”
As a substitute of touchdown in a regional on the opposite aspect of the nation like once they have been despatched to Albany and matched up with the defending nationwide champions within the Candy 16, the Bruins have been effectively positioned for the postseason due to their historic season.
They grabbed the No. 1 general seed, remained on the West Coast for his or her regional and have been positioned in a bracket that has no convention match champions remaining within the regional semifinals.
If the Bruins get previous their reunion with former teammate Christeen Iwuala, who was a part of UCLA’s vaunted recruiting class earlier than transferring to Ole Miss this season, they’ll face No. 2 North Carolina State or No. 3 LSU on Sunday for a spot within the Last 4. The potential rematch in opposition to the crew that knocked the Bruins out of the match final season despatched murmurs round UCLA’s choice present watch social gathering final week.
“I do know what this crew desires on the finish of the day, and we’ve all of the elements to do it,” heart mentioned. “I simply suppose it’s going to be us stopping us on the finish of the day.”
