Charlisse Leger-Walkers scoring spree powers UCLA womens basketball

As usual, UCLA assistant coach Tasha Brown ticked off each player’s nickname as they got off the team bus Sunday.Only she offered an addendum for the point guard known as Charlisse X-Ray Vision Leger-Walker.“We need you to score, too,” Brown told the player universally recognized for her unselfishness.Sure thing.With an array of crafty moves, Leger-Walker was happy to comply during the second-ranked Bruins’ 73-50 romp over USC at the Galen Center.Leger-Walker’s 20 points led both teams and showed how her relatively quiet addition as a second facilitator alongside Kiki Rice could elevate the Bruins as they seek their first NCAA championship.“We’ve been really trying to get Charlisse to think about not only her ability to get everybody involved and have our teamwork be in sync,” UCLA coach Cori Close said, “but for her to just make the right basketball play and to be aggressive for her own shot as well … I think she’s getting into a good rhythm for that.”Leger-Walker’s scoring output tied her season high and further revealed the depth of a team that had four players in double-figure scoring against the Trojans.“Because we have so many talented pieces,” Leger-Walker said, “it can be anyone’s night any game and happened to be, you know, I scored a lot tonight.”Her scoring was especially critical late in the third quarter.With USC clinging to comeback hopes, Leger-Walker got the bounce on a jumper.

Then she followed her own steal with a 3-pointer.The Bruins were back up by 21 points.Ballgame.Leger-Walker said she was balancing the need to facilitate while also making the right reads.“They like to be really aggressive defensively and were taking away some different options,” said Leger-Walker, who made 8 of 13 shots and 4 of 7 3-pointers.

“And so, I guess it’s just stepping up into that role and taking the shots that were there for me and being more aggressive in just understanding how they were playing me and our team.”A gr...