(Editor's note: Stanford junior center/forward Carolyn Moos will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more on the Cardinal, visit Stanford's official athletic site.)

Feb. 7, 2000

	Moos

The team's effort in the (83-68) win over UCLA (last Thursday) was well done, especially as far as our rebounding and defense. Those are the two key aspects that our team needs to focus on in order to win. We knew our game plan and executed fairly well. I have to say that was one of the stronger defensive games -- particularly on the low block and in the consistency of help side defense. We need to just keep building on that type of play, be consistent and stick to our defensive philosophy.

It was not hard to get up for the game on Saturday as we knew USC would come in hungry. Still, we did not come out as tenacious as we should have. The Trojans' defense was totally overplaying, pressuring and denying the wings, and we did not operate the high low look as we should have against that type of defense. Also, the posts needed to be more assertive in breaking up or getting some movement in order to work the high low and get some looks inside.

	THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
	UCLA's Maylana Martin: Second time around
	Oregon's Shaquala Williams: Getting past a tough week

I am sure that Oregon will come out ready to play Thursday, but we want this game as well and are going to come out ready. Of course, the Ducks will be highly motivated after their performance against us (Oregon blew a 26-point lead when the two teams met Jan. 15), but we have something to prove, too, and that is that we can't allow such a deficit from the beginning. We have to put together two great halves of basketball. Oregon State, which we play Saturday, has been playing fairly strong. Again, we need to focus on our game and come out to play Stanford basketball with intensity and enthusiasm.

Right now that's what counts most. The focus is ALL about the Pac-10. The importance is in the ability to execute one game at a time in the Pac-10 and earn ourselves a conference title and a good position for the NCAA Tournament. Once we get closer to that goal, then we will focus on the possible matchups. Until then, we have our conference to focus on.

California vs. Minnesota
I'm in my third year at Stanford, and the transition from Wayzata, Minn., to California actually hasn't been that noticeable.

It felt natural coming here to California and Stanford. Of course, freshman year always calls for some learning -- the dorms, classes, bikes, mail ... well, you probably know the routine. But once that was all taken care of, it felt great to be here.

As far as the transition regarding the differences overall between Minnesota and California, the difference in weather is obviously quite apparent. Instead of zero degrees and white everywhere, we have 50-degree days and blurred vision from the rain as I quickly bike to class. No, really, the weather is beautiful here and I still am taken with the sun and palm trees. They make me smile.

Overall, the people here are great. California has a little flare in general that I can relate to and appreciate. I like the California lifestyle -- it is really part of who I am.

What I miss about Minnesota, however, is the distinct change of seasons. The leaves are really beautiful in the fall, and there is something about the very first day of spring when it hits about fifty and everyone in Minnesota goes crazy -- people bust out in their summer gear and everyone is extra friendly like they have just won the lottery. I kind of miss that, but I see a little bit of spring madness here, too, and that is fun.

I get to enjoy the snow when I get home for Christmas, and that is really something beautiful. In Minnesota, I could go skating right outside or ride on my dad's ice boat (it's on blades). I guess I have substituted going to the beach in the spring for that type of thing. But I have yet to pick up surfing. However, I don't miss the days when the temperature was minus-20, the ice rink road, ice scrapping, or freezing wet hair. There are positives to both places, but I am really happy in California right now.