LOS ANGELES — UCLA starter Tierra Henderson was dismissed from the women's basketball team Tuesday for repeated violations of team rules.

Henderson, a senior who was averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, was originally suspended Sunday before the Bruins' game against fourth-ranked California.

UCLA upset Cal 71-56 in that game without Henderson, who had started 18 of 20 games this season.

"When you are a member of a team, you take on an added level of responsibility that you need to live up to," UCLA coach Nikki Caldwell said. "If you cannot meet those standards, then there have to be consequences, and when there are numerous failures in that regard, then the consequences have to be severe."

The dismissal comes at a pertinent time for the Bruins, who play Oregon and Oregon State in Pac-10 matchups on the road this week.

Henderson, a fixture on defense for UCLA with 36 steals this season, made the first-team All-Pac-10 defensive team last season.

The team begins play in the Pac-10 tournament on March 12.