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UCLA Women's Basketball: Cori Close Found A Unique Way To Motivate Bruins Vs Buffs

The UCLA women's basketball head coach cooked up an unorthodox method for galvanizing her players.

Maren Angus-Coombs

UCLA Women's Basketball: Cori Close Found A Unique Way To Motivate Bruins Vs Buffs
UCLA Women's Basketball: Cori Close Found A Unique Way To Motivate Bruins Vs Buffs /
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UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close has had some intense moments on the hardwood in her career but, before her No. 5 Bruins defeated No. 3 Colorado 76-68 in Boulder on Friday night, she lightened the mood.

Close entered the team's film room donning a UCLA football jersey complete with shoulder pads and helmet complete with visor. When she took the helmet off, she revealed eye black.

The 13-year head coach in Westwood hyped up her team to win the fight.

"Come on! Let's go! Punch first, punch back, punch all day long! Let's go!" Close said.

The Bruins responded to Close's pep talk, regained first place in the Pac-12 and matched their highest-ranked win in program history.

Graduate student Charisma Osborne led all players with 22 points. Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic had a game-high 13 rebounds, both recorded double-doubles with 20 and 11 points.

Next up, the Bruins head to Salt Lake City to take on No. 20 Utah on Monday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 2.

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Maren Angus-Coombs
MAREN ANGUS-COOMBS

Maren Angus-Coombs was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been a sports writer since 2008. Despite being raised in the South, her sports obsession has always been in Los Angeles. She is currently a staff writer for the LA Sports Report Network.