(Editor's note: UCLA's Maylana Martin, a senior forward, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more information on the Bruins, visit UCLA's official athletic site.)

Jan. 4, 2000

	Martin

This was probably the best New Year's I've ever had. We had New Year's Day off from practice so we could go out and enjoy New Year's Eve for the first time. I went down to my grandmother's beach house where my cousin was having a party. I hung out with my cousin and his friends. It was a lot of fun. It was really pretty with the sunset over the ocean and everything, watching the count down with the waves crashing.

We're about to start the Pac-10 season. We play Washington on Friday and Washington State on Sunday, so we're really excited. It's kind of a reality check for our team because now we're starting to realize how fast the season is going to be over. And really not just the season, but for the seniors, our college careers.

We only have 10 weeks left of conference before NCAAs and we're excited. I think we have a little bit to prove on after not playing as well as we would've liked at the end of conference last year. We opened up really well, but we hit a little slump during mid-conference that cost us a couple of games. I'm hoping that our team can come out strong and finish strong heading into NCAA Tournament.

	THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
	Tulane's Grace Daley: Video game Grace
	Oregon's Shaquala Williams: Getting back on track

We recently had (senior point guard) Erica Gomez return to the team after being out for some time with an injury. I think there has been a little bit of a difference since her return. It was somewhat of an adjustment having to come into this season getting used to a freshman point guard, and I think that changed our game a little.

We had four juniors and one sophomore starting last year and we all kind knew what to expect. Coming into this year, it took us a while to get used to (freshman) Nicole Kaczmarski, and then once we did, Erica came back and now we have to get used to playing with her again. She came back the game before our Rutgers/UConn trip and it was difficult playing those teams while we were getting used to having Nicole and Erica on the court at the same time.