After setting a new wins record for the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball program on Saturday with a 101-52 win over Long Beach State, Cori Close was still heaping praise onto others who helped turn the Bruins into a powerhouse.
“I think about people like Billie Moore, who really built UCLA basketball and being one of the women’s Olympic coaches, just doing so many great things and then Pam Walker, she’s been here over 35 years and has gone through multiple staffs and have continued to help us build,” Close said. “The only reason that’s (the record) is meaningful to me is for all the people who have been so loyal and faithful and believed in our mission.”
After being hired in 2011, Close has accumulated a record of 297-140 with eight NCAA tournament appearances. UCLA remains the No.1 team in the country and are still unbeaten at 10-0 on the season.
“I just want to humbly say thank you to them,” Close said. “The reality for me is that I get to work with unbelievable people that really believe in the mission of our program. It is different than other people’s, so to have a staff that, not even just assistant coaches, but support staff and everybody else that is so deeply committed to what we’re trying to do to the lives of the women through basketball is remarkable.”
UCLA will look to push their win streak to 11 on Monday against Cal Poly, hosting the Mustangs for a 7:00 p.m.