(Editor's note: Oregon sophomore guard Shaquala Williams will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more information on the Ducks, visit Oregon's official athletic site.)

Jan. 25, 2000

	Williams

I had a pretty funny conversation with my mom the other day. She got mad because she said she had to read my journal just to know how I was feeling week to week. I'm not the type of person to push my issues on other people, so I usually keep them to myself. I'm really the perfect child, I never ask for any money, I get good grades and stay out of trouble. I'm just not real talkative away from basketball, and so my mom always thinks I'm going through some sort of depression. So mom, if you read this week, I'm just fine. Hope you can make the trip to LA. If not, just watch it on TV.

This is a huge weekend for our basketball team. We play USC on Thursday and UCLA on Saturday, and both games will be really tough. I'm looking forward to both, but USC is one that will take me back in time. The Trojans' (senior) point guard, Erica Mashia, was like my idol growing up. I went to all of her games when she played at Jefferson (Portland, Ore.). She was the basketball player I emulated.

	THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
	Notre Dame's Ruth Riley: No pressure
	Tulane's Grace Daley: Superstition ain't the way
	UCLA's Maylana Martin: Road warriors
	Stanford's Carolyn Moos: Forward progress
	Jackie Stiles of SMS: Road rules

My friend, Antoine, always used to call me 'Little Erica.' I tried to play it cool like it was no big deal, but then I'd go home and smile about it. When she was a senior at Jefferson and I was a freshman at St. Mary's, we met at the state tournament. That was the first and last time I ever feared someone on the basketball court. She lit me up for like 35! But I am happy she is back playing again because her game is nice; it's just so smooth.

I always look forward to UCLA because the Bruins are the best team on the West Coast. Their team is stacked with talent. We'll have to play our best to compete with them. As a freshman against them last year I had two good games. The first one down there gave me the confidence that I could be good in this league. The second one at Mac Court gave me the confidence that I could be one of the best in the country.

Our teams -- Oregon and UCLA -- are the biggest contrast in characters. Coach (Jody) Runge is just real steady, and has the same look on her face the whole time. (UCLA coach) Kathy Olivier is real animated and you know what she's thinking from the look on her face. Our style: We are defense all the way, a real blue-collar type team. They are "Showtime" -- fast break and score 100 points on you. Personnel: They have Kodak All-Americans, we have no All-Americans. Basketball alums: They have Ann Meyer and Natalie Williams, no need to mention the men's side. We have Bev Smith and Lauri Landerholm, and our men, ummmmm, ummmm, exactly!

But it should be a lot of fun this week because I know we want to win and we will compete for 40 minutes. If we have learned anything this season, it's that we have to compete for 40 minutes.