UC SANTA BARBARA
2018-19
Started all 30 games in her junior season, averaging 9.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game ... Had 15 double-digit scoring games, highlighted by career-high 20 points in season opener at Utah Valley on Nov. 6, in which she went 9-of-14 from the field ... Pulled down 16 rebounds in the following game against CSU Bakersfield ... Came up with five double-doubles (Nov. 6 at Utah Valley, Nov. 9 vs CSU Bakersfield, Dec. 2 vs Grand Canyon, Jan. 26 vs Hawai'i, March 12 vs UC Irvine).
2017-18
Played in 28 games with one start...Led the team with 12 blocks...Her 44.4 shooting percentage and 75.9 free throw percentage were second and third-best on the team, respectively...Scored her first points of the season against Seattle (Nov. 17), finishing with five points in 10 minutes...Began the year making 11-of-12 free throws, including two straight 4-for-4 efforts...Enjoyed her top-two offensive performances in back-to-back outings, scoring a season-high nine points on 4-of-5 shooting against CSF (Feb. 15) and posting eight points on 3-of-4 shots against UCI (Feb. 17)...Pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds at New Mexico St. (Dec. 29)...Recorded second multi-block game of the season with a career-high three at Cal Poly (Feb. 21)...Made at least one field goal in 15 of 28 appearances...Averaged 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
2016-17
Appeared in 21 games while making one start as a freshman center…Made her UCSB debut on Nov. 30 against Santa Clara and tallied three points in six minutes…Three games later set a career-high with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in 22 minutes at San Diego State (Dec. 11)…Pulled down a career-best seven rebounds in the very next game against UCLA in 20 minutes of action on Dec. 14…Made her first career start in a 56-49 win over Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 7…Averaged 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game…Went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.
HIGH SCHOOL
Played for four years at Corona del Mar HS under coach Mark Decker…Set the school record for career rebounds and career blocks…She averaged a double-double in each of her final three seasons, including her 18 point and 12 rebound average as a senior…That same year, she recorded two blocks per game…Set her career-high in blocks with six against Bishop Amat HS and also scored 23 points and 18 rebounds…She led her team to the semifinals of CIF and to the second round in state…Was the Pacific Coast Athlete of the Year and Corona del Mar Athlete of the Year in 2016, as she was also recognized as First Team All-CIF, league MVP, the Newport Mesa Player of the Year, Second Team All-County, OC Sidelines First Team All-County, and First Team All-State (Div. IV)…As a junior, she led the Sea Kings to a league championships after she averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, and was named First Team All-CIF, league MVP, and the Newport Mesa Player of the Year…Scored a career-high that season with a 39-point outing versus Valencia, as she also recorded 17 rebounds and two blocks…Ten days later, she set her career-high with 20 rebounds against Rancho Cucamonga, as she also added 27 points and five blocks…That year, she brought her team to a league championship, the semifinals of the CIF, and the first round of state…During her sophomore year, she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game and led her team to the semifinals of CIF and to the first round of state…That year, she was named First Team All-CIF for the first time, and First Team All-Pacific Coast League…As a freshman, she averaged 12 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and was voted to the Newport Mesa Dream Team and second team all-league…Her team reached the second round of CIF that year...Also played volleyball at an all-county level…Was an AP Scholar Award winner and earned the Academic Lamp with Highest Honors…Also was the school’s yearbook editor in 2014 and 2016.
PERSONAL
Natalia Ann Bruening was born on Nov. 14, 1997 in Frankfurt, Germany to parents Julia and Christoph…Has a younger sister, Tatiana, and a younger brother, George…Nickname is Nashortia…Her most memorable sports moment was being named the Pacific Coast League Athlete of the Year…Favorite sports teams are the Los Angeles Lakers and the New England Patriots…Lists Kobe Bryant, Candace Parker, and Rob Gronkowski as her favorite athletes…For movies, she loves anything Disney…Her favorite TV shows are Friends, Gilmore Girls, and Saturday Night Live…Enjoys reading the Harry Potter series, as her favorite author is JK Rowling…Beyoncé is her favorite music artist…In her free time, she likes to play volleyball, watch Netflix, or go to Disneyland…Was recruited by USC, Colorado, Dartmouth, and Cornell…She was also recruited to play collegiate volleyball…Majoring in economics or film & media studies…Aspires to be a sports journalist.
