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Tuesday, February 15
 
Big games, a birthday and a broken wrist



(Editor's note: UC Santa Barbara junior forward Erin Buescher will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more on the Gauchos, visit UCSB's official athletic site.)

Feb. 14, 2000

Hola, Gaucho fans! It's been a while since my last entry, so there is plenty to talk about. (Sophomore center) Kayte Christensen broke her wrist, we had Fill The Dome, coach Mark French turned 50 and has to dye his hair blonde because the attendance record was broken during the UCI game. Where to begin?

Erin Buescher
Erin Buescher, right, averaged 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds last season.

It's hard to believe we are already in the middle of February. At the hotel Friday night, we were all talking about how Senior Night is coming up and how Stacy (Clinesmith), Tawnée (Cooper) and Kristi (Rohr) have played their last college game in Northern California. It's really strange to think about playing without those three next year. It will be a whole new experience for Nicole (Greathouse), Rachelle (Rogers) and I next season.

Everyone is in the middle of midterms right now, so there is a lot on everyone's mind besides basketball. We were surrounded by a lot of our family and friends at the UOP game, and it was great to see everyone. You would think that by now I would have grown accustomed to being away from my family, but I still find myself sick to my stomach every time I have to say goodbye, especially because my family has taken up surfing and bodyboarding, and I am jealous of them because they get to play in the water. I'm sure that on the other hand, when they are all on their way to the office, they wish they were me heading for the gym.

A week ago we had our annual "Fill The Dome" promotion -- a game chosen to try and draw as many people as possible and break the previous attendance record. As an incentive this year, coach French said he would do something crazy if the record was broken. So next week at the Thunderdome, there will be two platinum blondes on the Gaucho bench -- coach has to dye his hair to match Stacy's as a result of breaking the record. Not only will his hair be dyed, but his eyebrows and mustache as well. It will be very amusing, and he will keep it for both games next weekend. He is going to look like a Q-Tip.

THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
Stanford's Carolyn Moos:
Lions and Cardinals and Bears
UCLA's Maylana Martin:
Too many mistakes
Oregon's Shaquala Williams:
Keeping things in perspective

We have been without the services of one Kayte Christensen because of a broken left wrist she suffered during the Vanderbilt game. It was really sad because she was having (and will continue to have) a really good year. She is still contributing by being vocal, and giving tips from the sidelines. Do not fear; she is working her tail off and staying in shape so that she will be ready to play when her cast comes off before the Big West Tournament.

Kayte and Jess (Hansen) are roommates this trip, and they both have been victims of stolen stuffed animals on past road trips, so I think that they stay up late talking about how that makes them feel.

The road trip also was spiced up a little bit because of coach's 50th birthday. We felt compelled to do something meaningful and straight from the heart. So, we trashed his hotel room. We took all of the light bulbs out of the room so he couldn't see anything. Then we took out all the towels, except one washcloth (we didn't want to be too ruthless). We put shaving cream on the earpiece to the telephone and then saran-wrapped the toilet. We set his alarm so he was rudely awaken at 3 o'clock in the morning with his favorite rap station in Stockton (Calif.). We did do some nice things, too, making him cards and things. He's a good sport for putting up with us.

It's National Love Day, so be sure to spread some around (and Happy Valentine's Day, too),

Erin

This is one of my all-time favorite verses: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things."

-- Philippians 3-4





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