UCLA, USC Face Big Challenges : Women’s basketball: Bruins and Trojans take on Maryland and No. 6 Virginia in Pauley Pavilion tournament.

It’s being billed as the Pac-10/ACC Challenge, and it may be that. But this weekend’s women’s basketball tournament at Pauley Pavilion also gives UCLA and USC an opportunity to knock off Virginia, one of the best teams in the country, and possibly join the top 25.

The event pits Maryland and Virginia, both of the Atlantic Coast Conference, against the two Pacific 10 schools. Tonight, USC will play Maryland at 5:30 and UCLA will play Virginia at 7:30. Saturday night, UCLA will play Maryland and USC will play Virginia.

Of course, the tournament might also point out what is already obvious to some--that unranked USC and UCLA are two very ordinary teams.

Both may match up well against Maryland (5-2), a young and unranked team that hasn’t played a ranked team this season.

But Virginia (6-2), coached by Debbie Ryan, is a perennial national power, ranked No. 6, with both losses coming on the road against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, two top-five teams.

The last time the Cavaliers came to Southern California to play the Trojans and Bruins on consecutive nights was 1991, and the Cavaliers easily won both games.

Granted, this is 1995, but Virginia has not slipped as far as talent is concerned. Senior center Wendy Palmer has developed into a team leader and a force, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Sophomore forward Monick Foote is getting nearly as many points, as is junior point guard guard Tora Suber, who is also dishing out five assists a game.

And freshman forward DeMya Walker is doing nicely in the starting lineup, averaging 10 points and nearly seven rebounds.

Defensively, the Cavaliers have been extremely effective, especially against unranked foes. In their last two games they overwhelmed Northeastern, 81-20, and Coppin State, 87-42.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, and Maryland has a lot of talent, and young kids who can do some things, so we’re concentrating on them first,” USC Coach Fred Williamson said.

Since they were embarrassed in their opening game by Oklahoma State, 85-55, the Trojans (4-2) have been playing with more intensity and are coming off perhaps their most impressive victory, 68-59 over Long Beach State at Long Beach.

USC is nowhere near as balanced or as deep as Virginia, but the Trojans do have forward Tina Thompson, who, like Palmer, is considered by many to be a candidate for player of the year.

Thompson has led the Trojans in scoring in every game--she has a 22-point average--and is their top rebounder as well, getting more than 10 a game.

Providing some balance is center Adrain Williams (5.7 points, 9.3 rebounds) and freshman guard Erica Mashia (10.7 points), who has made all 25 free throws this season.

UCLA (4-3) does have some weapons, notably senior center Kisa Hughes, the team’s top scorer (14.4 points) and rebounder (7.4), and junior guard Nickey Hilbert (14.3 points).