IRVINE, Calif. - The 2017-18 UC Irvine women's basketball team will feature 10 newcomers with five true freshmen and five returning redshirts suiting up in an Anteater uniform for the first time. Fans can get to know each of these student-athletes through our Meet the Newcomers series, and up next is freshman forward Tahlia Garza.




#11 TAHLIA GARZA
Year: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Hometown: Morgan Hill, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Major: Undeclared

1. It's Never Too Late
Tahlia wasn't the kid who was dribbling a basketball as soon as she could walk. She actually played volleyball, softball and soccer when she was younger, and it wasn't until sixth grade when her height drew her into the basketball world.
 
"I started a little late compared to others," Garza said. "I started because I was tall and people told me I should play basketball. So, I joined my middle school team and I liked it, it was fun."
 
Tahlia also played AAU in seventh grade before really getting a taste of the sport's competitiveness in high school. Once she experienced the intensity on the court, she knew she wanted to take her game to the next level.
 
"Attending Mitty introduced me to competition and intensity at a national level, which inspired me to want to continue," Garza added. "It was really the competitiveness that made me stick with basketball. It's very challenging, but rewarding too."
 
Garza has already reaped many of those rewards as she helped Archbishop Mitty High School take home the 2015 CIF Division II State title. She was also a three-time NorCal, Central Coast Section and West Catholic Athletic League champion in her time with the Monarchs. Individually, Garza earned All-Central Coast Section, All-Bay Area and all-league honors, and was the 16th-ranked player in the country at her position. 
 
 
2. The Right Fit
Choosing a college is a big decision. It can be a daunting task trying to find where you want to spend the next four years of your life, and who you want to surround yourself with during that time. But, sometimes everything seems to fall into place.
 
Tahlia, who had narrowed her search down to two schools, was already familiar with UCI head coach Tamara Inoue and assistant coach Cecilia Russell-Nava when she came on her official visit. She knew this was a staff she wanted to play for and just needed to see if the school and team would be a good fit for her. It didn't take long for her to make up her mind.
 
"Really, the team was my deciding factor," Garza said. "I loved the coaches and had been talking to them for a while, so that was already great. Then, when I met the girls, they were so cool and welcoming - that's what did it for me."
 
Although it wasn't planned out, Tahlia ended up coming into the college experience with a familiar face by her side as high school teammate, Dani Guglielmo, also chose to play at UC Irvine.
 
"We never really talked about it," Garza said. "We both came on our officials at different times and then we both just committed.
 
"It was nice to know and be comfortable with someone automatically when we first got here," Garza added. "But, once we met with the team, everyone was super welcoming and we had everyone to hang out with."
 
 
3. Mitty Connection
One of Tahlia's biggest mentors on the court was her high school coach, Sue Phillips. Phillips, who will be entering her 26th year as the head girls' basketball coach at Archbishop Mitty in 2017-18, has totaled 635 wins and led the program to 20 league, 19 Central Coast Section, 12 NorCal and six state championships during her tenure. She has also been tabbed the National High School Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports and was twice named USA Basketball's Developmental Coach of the Year.
 
"Coach Phillips is very well-respected in the basketball world," Garza said. "She's a player's coach and really wants you to succeed. She'll push you harder than you ever thought was possible, but she really helped me get to where I am now."
 
Phillips helped mold not just Tahlia, but many of her former players into NCAA Division I student-athletes. One of those players was current UCI assistant coach Cecilia Russell-Nava, who played for the Monarchs from 1999-2003. Russell-Nava went on to play three seasons at New Mexico State where she still ranks among the top-five in school history in career 3-point field goals made (172).
 
The Northern California connection goes even further as Tahlia played AAU for one of Russell-Nava's former teammates.
 
 
MORE ABOUT TAHLIA...
What has been your most memorable basketball moment?
Winning the state championship my sophomore year.
 
Favorite Netflix show
Last Chance U
 
Favorite professional athlete
Steph Curry
 
Favorite movie
Love & Basketball
 
Why did you choose #11?
I've always said 11 is my lucky number. I don't really have a particular reason why. I think when I started playing sports I was #11 by chance and I just kept it.
 
What are you looking forward to in your freshman season?
I'm looking forward to improving every day. I know the practices and workouts are going to be really tough, but I just want to grow as a player, learn the system and be able to adjust to playing college basketball. It's a whole new world, so I'm excited.



MEET THE NEWCOMERS SERIES
Morgan Green
Jordan Sanders
Lauren Saiki