IMPOSING FRAME, BIG HEART; HUBBARD'S UCLA MATES FIND HER TO BE SOFT TOUCH.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Two years ago, Erica Gomez took her first look at future UCLA teammate Janae Hubbard - 6-feet-4 and 280 pounds with a size-15 shoe. Immediately, Gomez decided Hubbard ``was like a dude.''

Gomez was hosting Hubbard, who was a basketball recruit from Fresno High. As fast as Gomez made her assumption about Hubbard, she was proved wrong.

``I thought she would be manly,'' Gomez said. ``But her voice is soft. Softer than mine.''

Hubbard proves you can't judge a book by its cover. In fact, the physically imposing Hubbard prefers books, especially thought-provoking ones. A favorite is ``Faces at the Bottom of the Well.''

On road trips, like last week's Bay Area trip to Stanford and Berkeley, Hubbard would rather listen to the cool sounds of Miles Davis on her headphones than the hottest hip-hop beats.

``I want to relax,'' she said. ``School's starting. Classes are tough.''

Hubbard also acts as team counselor. When players have troubles, such as men or school, she lends an ear.

``She has the sweetest personality,'' teammate Carly Funicello said. ``She's the most open person. She knows so many different issues. She'll say something and make sure she's got something to back it up.''

Hubbard is used to fooling people. Ever since junior high school, when Hubbard knew people were staring, she made them feel uncomfortable by smiling and waving at them.

``I like to be noticed,'' she said.

Unfortunately for her, she was noticed for the wrong reasons when she came to UCLA. She was big but had a difficult time adjusting to being just one star out of many. Her confidence dropped.

She also became injured - a stress fracture in her foot and pains in her knees and back, the result of too much weight combined with the rigors of the game.

``I had to condition,'' she said. ``You have to run around the court. You're pounding. You have to make sharp cuts. To have added weight is not smart.''

This summer, she stayed in L.A. and got in shape, first by running for an hour a day. Then she carefully followed coach Kathy Olivier's conditioning regimen.

By the start of the fall season, she had dropped 25 pounds.

``I want to be healthy enough,'' she said.

Actually, Hubbard always has had quick feet and a shooting touch. She scored 26 points and grabbed 18 rebounds last year against Washington State and finished her sophomore year with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament loss to Alabama.

The weight loss also has helped with top scorer Maylana Martin hampered by back problems. Hubbard has had to increase her productivity and has responded. She added 16 points against Cal and 11 against Stanford as the Bruins ended the Cardinal's 63-game home win streak. Hubbard has a 14.4-point scoring average and 7.9-rebound average, placing her second to Martin on the team in both categories.

``She's playing a major role,'' Olivier said. ``When May was out, she was our honorary captain.''

Now that's a look Hubbard would like. No fooling.

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PHOTO Janae Hubbard, 6-4 and 280 pounds, is averaging 14.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Evan Yee/Daily News