A quick YouTube search might just reveal the core essence of one Brittney Griner: a swagger parlayed in her national-spotlight interviews; hands seemingly designed for swatting shots (she has 11 blocks in just two games this season); a ridiculous frame imposing even for the untrained eye when opposing players stand beside her. And who could forget the aggression chronicled in Griner's fist-flying altercation with Texas Tech's Jordan Barncastle two seasons ago? Like it or not, this is the 6-foot-8 slice of pie the UCLA women's basketball team faces in its WNIT semifinal matchup against top-ranked Baylor on Thursday. They may have made some inroads in their win over Tennessee Tech on Sunday, but can these Bruins successfully enact David versus Goliath? Three key dynamics will likely determine UCLA's fate in Texas:
Battle of the Bigs
It's no secret that the Bruins - without the services of forwards Jasmine Dixon and Markel Walker because of injuries - will have quite the load to handle with Griner manning the post. Be that as it may, the strategy is simple.
"Our goal is to stay behind her," sophomore forward Rhema Gardner said. "We'll play her straight up and push her out to try and turn her into a jump shooter."
UCLA will also need its own share of output from the post in order to jump-start the offense. In other words, redshirt junior forward Atonye Nyingifa will be looked upon to continue to crash the boards and put up points as the team's makeshift center.
"Atonye has to be a double-double player for us," coach Cori Close said. "It may not be her post-ups; it may be picking and popping, but she'll have to find ways in her game to create those opportunities."
The Other Bear
While Griner may garner the national attention, Baylor still wields a potent backcourt weapon in sophomore guard Odyssey Sims. Last season's Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Sims has built a reputation as both a slasher and a shooter (she shot at a.453 clip from beyond the arc in 2010-2011), and it will be imperative for the Bruins to limit the Baylor guard's presence on the court.
"With Baylor, the ball starts in Odyssey Sims' hands," Close said. "We have to keep her in front of us and, at the same time, get close enough to disrupt her vision so that she isn't throwing pinpoint passes."
The Venue
Thursday's game marks UCLA's first road game of the year, and while it's certainly one way to break in the road jerseys, how the Bruins compose themselves in a hostile environment figures to matter a great deal. After all, only three of the eight players (Nyingifa, senior guard Rebekah Gardner, and junior guard Mariah Williams) who have been out on the court so far saw significant playing time in seasons past.
"More than anything in the game plan, it's the mental state going into a game like this," Close said. "We need to go in there with a sense of freedom and the desire to compete. No pressure is on us."
Ask Rhema Gardner, and it's a point well taken.
"We're definitely not afraid," she said. "We're more excited than anything."
