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| Women's basketball senior class |
UCLA coaches and athletes will be on hand throughout the year to answer your questions in our "Ask the Bruins" Q&A sessions.
This week's featured guests were UCLA basketball seniors Nikki Blue, Lisa Willis, Ortal Oren, Emma Tautolo and Brittany Ringel. The senior class will be playing their final game in Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 18 against USC at 1 pm.
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| OC Bruin Fan: Congratulations on representing UCLA so well and proudly these past years and for ending the Stanford streak. My question (for any and/or all): What plans do you have for the future after graduation? We are proud of you. Thanks! (BEAT SC!!) |
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Lisa: Hopefully I will be able to go on and play professionally. if/after
that, then I will go back to school to be a lawyer/judge and make a
career out of that. Then further down the line, I will open a nonprofit
organization and work with underprivileged kids. |
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Nikki: I plan on playing professional basketball not only in the United States but possibly overseas. And then come back to school to get my Master's and possibly become a teacher and ultimately mayor of Bakersfield. |
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Emma: : I'm going to apply for grad school for counseling and education in the fall. It will be exciting to see where my friends Nikki and Lisa get drafted. |
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Brittany: I am going to be attending law school that will start up in August. I find out in the next month where I will be going and where I will be living for the next three years. I might go back to Texas or stay in SoCal. |
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| Jaime Robles(Bell): To Ortal Oren
What are your plans and goals after leaving UCLA? |
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Ortal: My biggest goal is to try out and play in the WNBA. But also I'm going to go back home and serve in the army and play professionally in the Israeli league. I would also like to do something with television or modeling. |
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| Dolores (Bakersfield): You Ladys have beaten everyone in the pac-10 by your freshmen year, how was it to finally beat stanford the only team in the pac-10 you hadnt beaten all four years until this year. |
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Emma: It was an indescribable experience. It was just satisfaction and joy in feeling that we worked hard to get where we are and to finally beat them. |
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Lisa: It was great beating Stanford. It's always a good feeling when you win
a game that nobody expects you to win. With Stanford, we (the seniors)
had conversations about how we would not leave UCLA without beating
them. So after we got over that hump, we felt great. |
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Brittany: Beating Stanford was fabulous, especially in front of our home crowd. That was my first time to defeat the Cardinal in five years, two sports. Long overdue. |
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Ortal: The feeling was awesome. It was a great accomplish for us to beat a team like Stanford, and it showed that we can play with any team in the country. It was the sweetest win because I'm graduating, and that was my last chance to beat them at home. |
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Nikki: It was the icing on the cake for my senior year. I think Stanford is as big of a rival as USC, and it really felt good to finally beat them my senior year. |
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| Bear (Los Angeles): Nikki-
I know this has been a long four years with lots of highs and lows. With your experience what do you honestly think can put us over the top so we can claim a National Championship. |
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Nikki: Consistency will definitely put us over the top and allow us to compete for a national championship. This year we have a really great shot at getting to the NCAA tournament and also doing some damage in the Tournament. Once we're in there, we're IN there. |
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| Becky Dab (Roanoke,VA): There will without a doubt be alot of emotion going into Saturday's game. Will it be hard to put it all behind as you play the game?
P.S. Ortal, sorry I can't be there. Mazel Tov on 4 years well played. |
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Ortal: It's not going to be hard because I think when the jump ball comes, it's all about business and all about getting it done. Of course it's going to be exciting, and there will be a lot of emotions for that game, but we have to come out with a win, so we have to put that all behind us. |
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Lisa: There will be emotions in the air, but I won't be sad. It will be good feelings going through me because I've had an awesome four years here at UCLA. Now at the banquet, that might be a little different. But Saturday, I will be juiced to play 'SC. |
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Emma: Yes because it's 'SC and no matter what sport, time, circumstance, I always get up to play 'SC. I know this is my last game in Pauley Pavilion, but I have great memories from this place and am always ready for what's next. It's kind of a bittersweet thing for me. |
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Nikki: I think we're pretty focused. Coming into this game we're looking at it as just another Pac-10 game that we must win. It being on senior day just gives us more motivation to win. |
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| scott, washington st: are any of you ladys planning a professional career, and with who? would you like to play for. |
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Nikki: I would love to play in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks but I'd just be happy to play in the WNBA period. |
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Lisa: Yes. I just want to go where I can fit in. But if I had my choice ... well, just wherever I'm wanted. |
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| Stefanie W (Los Angeles): To Brittany Ringel:
I have really admired you for bieing able to compete on two top athletic teams at UCLA. How were you able to do it? |
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Brittany: Thanks for asking Stefanie. That's a great question. It took a lot of adjusting to the time demands and requirements for two different programs. It was my dream to play both volleyball and basketball, and I am very thankful to both Andy and Kathy for allowing me to do so. Time management was a big key, and it has gotten much easier over the years. |
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| Robert Gutierrez(Bell): To Emma Tautolo
What makes Kathy Olivier such a great coach? |
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Emma: Her enthusiasm. And she invests in our lives more than just basketball. Off the court as well, she is interested in us having good character and being good people. |
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| Jaime Robles(Bell): To Lisa Willis
How did playing in the World University Games made you a better basketball player? |
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Lisa: The WUG helped me a lot because I was able to gain a lot of
confidence. Playing with a lot of different great basketball players
allowed me to look at why they have been successful and try to
incorporate some of that into my own game. I learned how to be a role
player and do exactly what is needed of me. |
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| Janie (Van Nuys): Question for all of the players - Is there any special meaning behind your uniform numbers? Ortal's is obvious (her initials), but what about the others? |
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Emma: My best friend from high school played at Oregon. She's a year older than me, and she was #44 in high school. Since my number was taken when I got here, I just took her number. |
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Lisa: I used to be #33 because I was in love with Scottie Pippen and Grant Hill. But when I started playing on another team, that number was taken. So my coach gave me #40, and I said what is this? This number isn't cool. So he challenged me to make it cool. So maybe one day you or somebody else will want to wear #40 how other people want to wear #23 like Jordan. |
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Nikki: I idolized Magic Johnson ever since I was six years old. 32 is the only jersey number I've ever had. |
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Brittany: No special meaning, but I would fight for these sport specific numbers :) Always been 1 for volleyball, 21 for basketball, and 13 for soccer. |
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| Stephanie Nicholas( Ashland Oregon): My question is to Nikki Blue. Do you believe that The Bruins will make it to the sweet 16?, because I do. |
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Nikki: Thanks Stephanie! Yes, of course I believe it. |
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| Lady Dawgs (Bakersfield): I noticed that several UCLA players played Club Ball prior & or during High school. How instrumental was this experience to you receiving scholorship offers? |
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Nikki: AAU Basketball is the only reason why I did get a scholarship to UCLA. It gave me exposure nation-wide and it allowed me to be highly recruited by almost every top program in the country. |
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Lisa: I think playing club was important because I was able to gain exposure on the national level for years prior to signing. |
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Emma: It was very important because you get seen by college scouts that you wouldn't just by being on a high school team. It's important for your exposure nation-wide, and you also play against higher-caliber players in club. It's a better recruiting network. |
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| OO Fan (Boston): Do you guys think the many seniors on this year's team will help carry onto a surprising March? |
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Brittany: Having five seniors gives us the advantage of experience as well as the motivation that this is our last time to play for the Bruins, and we want to go out with a bang. |
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Ortal: I hope so! We need to make the tournament first, but when we get there, we can surprise any team in the tournament. |
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Lisa: Yes! Definitely! |
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Nikki: Definitely, the seniors play a huge part, but it's going to take players 1 through 14 for us to play until March and be successful in the NCAA Tournament. |
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Emma: Yes. We have great leadership and experience. I think our stability will take us a long way. |
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| Jaime Robles(Bell): To Nikki Blue
How would you like UCLA fans to remember you by? |
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Nikki: As a leader. |
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| shiree (douglasville): wut is it like playing 4 a college. i am a freshman on varsity in highschool. i really want to play for yall someday. |
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Emma: College is an amazing experience. The people that you meet and the friends that you have will be your friends for rest of your life. |
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| Tony ( LaVerne): How do you think that the team will do in the playoffs(tournament) |
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Brittany: We are going to peak at just the right time and surprise people. We are capable of being a very dangerous team come tournament time. |
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Nikki: I hope that the team will do really well in the playoffs. Our goal right now is just to get to the playoffs, and we'll see what happens from there. |
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Lisa: I think we'll take it all the way !!! But that's a biased opinion. |
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| Josh Lewis(Hawthorne): To Ortal Oren
What do you miss the most from Israel?
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Ortal: My family and my best friends. |
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| Jaime Robles (Bell): To Brittany Ringel
What are your best memories from the volleyball and basketball teams? |
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Brittany: My best memories have been the friends I have played with over the years. My best memory of a volleyball game is beating Nebraska at Nebraska in 2003 to get to the Elite Eight. Our team was on a mission that game, and I had a lot of family in attendance. I'm genuinely going to miss getting crunk with the basketball girls before game time. |
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| Gail (Northridge): To Nikki & Lisa
Are you guys hopeful about being selected in the upcoming WNBA draft? And if you are not selected, will you go to any open tryouts? I would love to see either or both of you with the Sparks, or at least playing locally.
All of you will be missed by Bruin fans. Good luck in your futures. |
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Nikki: It's been a lifelong dream to be put in the situation I am right now. I hope to be playing somewhere, but we won't find that out till April. Thanks for the support. |
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Lisa: Yes, I'm hopeful. All I can do is go on the court and give it my all. Hopefully, somebody will like what they see. I'm not sure about open tryouts. But maybe. |
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| Natalie Golda (Los Angeles): Umm, I was wondering how it felt to be incredibly awesome. You guys are great- Keep up the good work!! |
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Emma: You're the best, Golda. I love you! |
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Brittany: love Nat! |
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Lisa: Nat, I'm sure you, more than anybody else, knows how it feels to be
awesome. I strive to be like you daily. |
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Nikki: I was wondering how it felt to win a national championship and an Olympic medal? You're awesome too, Golda! |
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Ortal: Golda, you're great. Love you, girl! |
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| Bruce Powers'78/ Salinas,CA: No question. Just want to say, thank you seniors and beat 'SC |
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Emma: Thanks, Bruce! |
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| scott, washington st: nikki, keep your head up, and Iam A big FAN of yours, im watching you. and we love you scott, heather and shaudai. |
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Nikki: Thanks, guys! I love you too! |
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| Joe Bruin (Westwood): What was your most memorable moment as a Bruin? |
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Ortal: Beating Stanford. |
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Emma: The Big Dance our freshman year, when the five freshmen performed to "Ladies Night" in front of the athletes and won the competition. It was really fun, and my girls and I just got to act crazy - like ourselves. It was fun. |
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Brittany: Graduation last June was my most memorable moment. My whole family flew out for the weekend, and it was so fun to go through the whole ceremony and all the activities with my best friends that I came in and "grew up" with. |
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Nikki: The first time I put on a UCLA uniform. |
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Lisa: Signing the letter of intent each year. It was a great feeling imagining the endless possibilities of what/who I can be at this wonderful university. |
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| Juanisse (Azusa): Lisa, Do you still keep in touch with your former class mates from high school, Loree, Ebony, Wilnett, and have they given you any advice for preparing for the WNBA |
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Lisa: Yes, I keep in touch. When Loree is out here, we hang out and just
chill and joke. |
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| Jaime Robles(Bell): To Nikki Blue
Why did you choose to play in UCLA instead of UCONN? |
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Nikki: I felt UCLA was a better fit for me all-around, with a great combination of athletics and academics. And I have no regrets whatsoever. I have enjoyed my four years here so much. |
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| Mayra Anderson(Los Angeles): Brittany Ringel
Why did you choose to play basketball instead of volleyball for your senior year? |
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Brittany: My four years of eligibility for volleyball were exhausted after the 2004 season. I choose to stay for a fifth year to be a part of the basketball team because I red-shirted my sophomore year in basketball. I would love to still be playing volleyball too. |
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| antoinette rtega(stockton): i know it was hard wok but i want to go to ucla and how do you gat accepted to the athletics program. for instance, i want to play college basketball how do i get accepted to their team? |
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Lisa: It's hard work to get to UCLA. Your grades need to be good, and you
obviously have to handle business on the court with a great attitude.
With those three things, you should be fine. |
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Brittany: The keys to victory: get good grades, play high school and club ball, and don't be afraid to pursue the schools you want to go to, instead of waiting for them to find you. |
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Emma: The number one thing is to get really good grades and work hard on and off the court. It will go a long way; you'd be surprised. |
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| Norwalk: How do you do to get better if you are not as tall? |
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Nikki: It's not about height and not about strength; it's about heart. If you have heart, the sky's the limit - trust me! |
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| Penni (Dallas): how long have yall been playing basketball and did u ever get tired like u wanted to take a break? |
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Ortal: I've been playing since fifth or sixth grade, and of course there were tough times, but I love this game too much to quit. |
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Brittany: I have played since the third grade. Not playing a sport anymore after this season is going to be my first real "break", and it is going to be a completely different lifestyle. |
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Lisa: I've been playing for about 13 years. My dad wishes that I would take a
break, but I don't. It's just too fun. |
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Nikki: I've been playing constructive basketball since 8 years old. And yes I've gotten tired, but my love for the game won't allow me to take too long of a break. |
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Emma: I've been playing since about 6th grade. I didn't ever really get tired of basketball because I played 2 sports, always going back and forth between the two and always on the go. It was just kind of natural. |
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| Jaime Robles(Bell): To Emma Tautolo
While playing limited minutes what have you done to remain positive physically and mentally? |
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Emma: I just really enjoy the concept of team. I enjoy it when my teammates are doing well. I work hard in practice every day, and knowing that I do my part keeps me able to stay positive. I'm working hard, and I know I'm here for a purpose and whatever that purpose is, I'm happy with it. I want to play, but when my opportunity comes, I'll go in there and do my best and do what I do. |
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| Woodland, Mississippi: Nikki Blue,
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your college career? |
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Nikki: Being able to take part in the rebuilding of this program. |
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| Jaymz Darby, las Vegas, NV: How can I get a Nikki Blue Jersey??
ps go BRUINS!! |
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Nikki: Once you find out, let me know! ;) |
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| Lewis (pomona, Ca): How did you guys spend your Valentines day? |
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Emma: Nikki, Shaina, Noelle and I went to dinner at PF Changs. It was a great night out with the girls. |
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Lisa: alone :( |
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Ortal: I went out to dinner in Malibu. |
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| Jaime Robles(Bell): To Lisa Willis
What parts of your game do you believe will have to improve in order to compete at a high level in the WNBA? |
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Lisa: I need to get tougher and be able to not let the contact affect me
as much. |
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| bakersfield: we love you nikki,and we are so proud of the person we see off the court,as well as the one we see on the court.
good luck boodah !! |
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Nikki: Hi, Auntie! 4th and P forever! |
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| bakersfield: When you reach the next level....
what will you buy your mom?
smile |
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Nikki: Whatever she wants! ;) |
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| los angeles: is lauren pedersen the best dancer on the team? |
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Emma: Probably not! |
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Nikki: Definitely |
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Lisa: probably not!!!!!!!! |
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Brittany: without a doubt....hands down. :) |
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Ortal: Uh ... probably not. But she's trying! |
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