No. 9 UCLA Visits No. 6 South Carolina on Sunday

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – No. 9 UCLA (8-1) continues its three-game road stretch when it visits No. 6 South Carolina (8-1) on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 with tip-off slated for 11:02 a.m. PT/2:02 p.m. ET. The series is tied at 1-1 between UCLA and South Carolina. The Gamecocks won last year's meeting at UCLA, 68-65 (Nov. 22, 2015). USC would later forfeit the first contest against the two teams on Jan. 5, 1981, a game in which it won 86-81 in Columbia, S.C.

GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016
Tip-off Time: 11:02 a.m. (PT)/2:02 p.m. (ET)
Television: ESPN2
Talent: Dave O"Brien (play-by-play); Doris Burke (analyst)
Internet Radio: uclabruins.com
Talent: Dave Marcus (play-by-play)

TICKETS
Purchase tickets to UCLA's upcoming games by calling the UCLA Central Ticket Office (310-825-2101) on weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm. Purchase tickets online by clicking here. Single-game tickets, mini plans, group tickets and team day tickets will are on sale now.

STORYLINES

The series is tied at 1-1 between UCLA and South Carolina. The Gamecocks won last year's meeting at UCLA, 68-65 (Nov. 22, 2015). USC would later forfeit the first contest against the two teams on Jan. 5, 1981, a game in which it won 86-81 in Columbia, S.C.
In her last outing, junior All-American point guard Jordin Canada scored 30 points in the win at UC Santa Barbara (Dec. 14). It marked the second time in her career she has reached the 30-point mark (career-high 31 points against West Virginia in the title game of the WNIT on April 4, 2015).
Jordin Canada was named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List and the Wade Watch List in late November after previously being named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List at the beginning of the year.
UCLA has had just one game decided by single-digits in 2016-17, the 75-73 win vs. Toledo in the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 25).
UCLA's 5-1 mark in the month of November this year was the best under head coach Cori Close (sixth season) and the best in six years (since 2010-11 squad went 5-0).
UCLA's 8-1 start to open the season is the best since the 2010-11 team began 10-0 before falling at home to LSU, 55-53 on Dec. 28, 2010.
UCLA is 25-14 (.641) all-time in the month of December under head coach Cori Close (since 2011-12 season).

TRENDING

UCLA has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 22 straight weeks & in the USA Today Coaches Poll for 18 straight weeks.
UCLA has lost 13 straight games on the road to ranked teams and four straight on the road to ranked non-conference teams. UCLA has won six straight on the road against unranked teams.
UCLA has held the lead at the half in all nine games this season and has only trailed at the end of the first and third quarters once this year (in the loss at #2 Baylor, Nov. 14, 2016).
UCLA's +8 wins ranked tied for 20th in the country last year in the most improved category (from 18 to 26).
UCLA is 6-0 when opponent's FG shooting is under 40% and 2-1 when 40% or better.
UCLA is 7-0 when out-rebounding opponent (or tied) and 1-1 when being out-rebounded.
UCLA is 6-0 when FG shooting is 40% or better and 2-1 when under 40%.
Junior All-American point guard Jordin Canada was one of five players named Preseason All-Pac-12 (media).
Kari Korver has made at least one three-pointer in a team-high 10 straight games.
Jordin Canada has scored in double figures in a team-high 14 straight games (dating back to last year).
Monique Billings has scored in double figures in a personal-best 11 straight games (dating back to last year).
Jordin Canada has had at least one assist in a team-best 71 straight games.
Kari Korver has had at least one steal in a team-best 12 straight games.
Kari Korver has made 54 consecutive starts (dating back to the 2014-15 season).

MILESTONES

The Bruins posted their 400th home win against Pacific (367 in Pauley; 37 in Wooden; 404-171, .703).
UCLA Head Coach Cori Close won her 100th career victory vs. Southern (106-70, .602).
Junior guard Jordin Canada became UCLA's 32nd player to reach 1,000 career points against Southern (1,118).
Senior guard Kari Korver needs 121 points to become UCLA's 33rd player to reach 1,000 career points.
Junior forward Monique Billings needs 182 points to become UCLA's 34th player to reach 1,000 career points.

RECORD WATCH

Junior forward Monique Billings needs 61 blocks to become the UCLA all-time career leader. She is currently second with 119 (Corinne Costa, 179, 2010-15).
Senior guard Kari Korver is on track to become the UCLA all-time career leader in free throw percentage. She is currently at .829 (160-for-193), ahead of second-place Denise Curry (.818, 1978-81).
Junior guard Jordin Canada recorded the sixth triple-double in UCLA history in the win over Southern (Nov. 18, 2016) with 11 pts, 10 rebs and 12 asts. The other five were posted by Markel Walker - 14 pts., 15 rebs, 10 asts vs. Washington State (Feb. 4, 2012); Noelle Quinn - 21 pts, 10 rebs, 10 asts at Cal (Feb. 19, 2004); Erica Gomez - 18 pts, 11 rebs, 10 asts vs. USC (Feb. 2, 1996); Ann Meyers - 20 pts, 14 rebs, 10 asts, 10 stl. vs. Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 2, 1978) and Ann Meyers - 14 pts, 10 rebs, 12 stls vs. San Diego State (Feb. 25, 1977).
Junior forward Monique Billings set the UCLA sophomore class single-season record for blocks with 56 last year.
Senior guard Kari Korver set the UCLA single-season record for made three-pointers with 74 in 2014-15.
Sophomore guard Kennedy Burke had 25 blocks last year as a freshman, which tied for fourth with Ann Meyers on the UCLA freshman class single-season charts.

OH, CANADA!

Junior All-American point guard Jordin Canada was named among the 20 watch list candidates for the 2017 Nancy Lieberman Award. She was one of three Pac-12 point guards selected.
After tallying the votes from Charlie Creme, Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel, espnW.com named its top 25 players for the 2016-17 season and Canada made the list, coming in at No. 21.
Canada was selected to the Naismith Trophy Women's 50 preseason watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Nov. 30, 2016. The 50 players on the watch list are in consideration for the 2017 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year award. The mid-season list of 30 will be announced on Feb. 8, 2017.
Canada was selected to the "Wade Watch" list and was among 25 players listed as candidates for the 2017 Wade Trophy, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Dec. 1, 2016.
Canada was named the MVP of the Riviera Division at the Cancun Challenge in late November after scoring a game-high 27 points in the win over Toledo and adding 13 points with six assists in the win over Iowa.
Canada was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Nov. 21, 2016. She led the Bruins to a 2-1 week by averaging 17.7 points, 9.0 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game while shooting 100 percent (15-for-15) from the free throw line. Canada recorded the 6th triple-double in UCLA history and the first since 2012 with 11 points, 10 boards and a career-high 12 assists in a win over Southern on Nov. 18. She nearly had the first back-to-back triple-double in UCLA history and the first in the Pac-12 since 2002 but finished one assist shy with 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a win over Cal Poly on Nov. 20. She began the week with 23 points, six assists, four steals and three boards in a loss at #2 Baylor (Nov. 14). She also became the 32nd player in UCLA history to surpass the 1,000-point mark in her career in the same game as the triple-double.

KORVER CLIMBING CAREER CHARTS
Junior guard Kari Korver is currently at No. 1 on UCLA's career free throw percentage list at 82.9 percent (160-for-193), ahead of second-place Denise Curry (.818, 1978-81). She also ranks in all three categories for three-point shooting, ranking No. 5 in three-point percentage (.372), at No. 2 in makes (197) and at No. 2 in attempts (529).

BOMBS AWAY
UCLA has two three-point shooting contest winners on its roster as Kennedy Burke won the 2015 high school three-point shooting contest, a competition won by Kari Korver in 2012. Last year, the pair combined to make 59.1% of the team's 3-pointers (88-of-149, 67 by Korver and 21 by Burke). This year they have combined to make 46.7% (28-of-60, 18 by Korver and 10 by Burke).

SENIOR LEADERS
Kari Korver and Nicole Kornet are the only two seniors on the 2016-17 roster. Korver is one of three returning starters and averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last year and set the UCLA single-season record for three-pointers made with 74 in 2014-15. Kornet sat out last season at UCLA after transferring from Oklahoma. This summer, she led the Bruins in scoring at 16.0 points per game and also averaged 5.8 rebounds per contest.

JUNIOR CAMPAIGN
The junior class at UCLA was the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2013-14 and is loaded with seven players, including returning starters Jordin Canada and Monique Billings. Canada led the team in scoring (16.1 ppg), assists (5.7 apg) and steals (2.3 spg) a year ago and was named first team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. Billings was third on the team in scoring (12.7 ppg) and led the Bruins in rebounds (8.1 rpg) and blocks (1.6 bpg). She was named Honorable Mention All-Pac-12.

SOPHOMORE SEASON
Just two sophomores on the roster for 2016-17 as Kennedy Burke and Ashley Hearn return for their second season. Burke was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team after averaging 5.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last year. Hearn averaged 0.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game off the bench in just 6.6 minutes per game.

WELCOME TO WESTWOOD
Two standout freshmen have arrived in Westwood in 2016-17. Lindsey Corsaro (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli HS) and Ally Rosenblum (Newport Coast, Calif./Mater Dei HS). Corsaro is a McDonald's All-American and averaged 25.3 ppg and 9.7 rpg in her senior year. Rosenblum averaged 17.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg in her last prep year.

BIG MACS ON CAMPUS
UCLA's roster features a school-record-tying four McDonald's All-Americans in 2016-17 as freshman guard Lindsey Corsaro (2016) joins sophomore forward Ashley Hearn (2015) and juniors Jordin Canada and Lajahna Drummer (2014).

BRUINS DOWN UNDER
UCLA spent 10 full days in Australia in August 2016, going 4-0 in the preseason games (NCAA rules allow college programs to take a foreign trip once every four years). The Bruins opened with an 83-48 win over Southern Districts and then posted a 101-58 win at the Cairns Dolphins. UCLA rallied past the Sydney Flames, 73-69 (WNBL) and then defeated the Sydney Comets, 78-58 (WNBL). Five Bruins averaged in double figures, led by Nicole Kornet's 16.0 ppg. Monique Billings was second (13.0 ppg) and led the Bruins in rebound (8.3 rpg). Kari Korver (11.0 ppg), Jordin Canada (10.8 ppg) and Kelli Hayes (10.3 ppg) rounded out the five players in double digits. Sophomore Kennedy Burke just missed the double-digit mark at 9.3 ppg.

BRUINS PICKED TO WIN PAC-12
For the first time since 1999-2000 and the third time in program history, UCLA was voted first in the Pac-12 women's basketball regular season, the Conference office announced on Oct. 20 at Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day. The Bruins received eight first-place votes and 116 points for the top spot. Stanford collected two first-place votes and 110 points for second place in the polling, followed by NCAA Final Four participant Washington. The Huskies picked up 93 points and two first-place votes to round out the top three. The Bruins had the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation two years ago and that class is now juniors. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Cori Close, UCLA welcomes back three starters from last year's squad that went to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. UCLA's returning starters are juniors Monique Billings and Jordin Canada and senior guard Kari Korver.

2016-17 PAC-12 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL
Team (First Place) Points
1. UCLA (8) 116
2. Stanford (2) 110
3. Washington (2) 93
4. Arizona State 89
5. Oregon State 81
6. California 71
7. Oregon 69
8. Utah 52
9. USC 44
10. Washington State 31
11. Colorado 22
12. Arizona 14

PAC-12 STILL GOING TO BE STRONG IN 2016-17
The Pac-12 is coming off its most historic women's basketball season, claiming two teams in the NCAA Women's Final Four. Five teams earned NCAA Tournament bids and league teams went 5-0 in the first round. Other firsts from last season included four teams in the Sweet 16 and three teams in the Elite Eight. The Conference also welcomes back eight of the 14 All-Pac-12 honorees and five top-20 recruiting classes.

BRUINS SLATED FOR 19 TV GAMES THIS YEAR
UCLA will have 19 regular-season women's basketball games televised live this season. The Bruins will have games televised on three different networks, including 15 on the Pac-12 Networks, three on the ESPN family of networks, and one on Fox Sports Plus. All three games slated to be televised by ESPN will be on the road. The Bruins' non-conference game at South Carolina (Dec. 18) will be televised nationally on ESPN2 while league road games at Washington (Jan. 8) and at Stanford (Feb. 6) will air on ESPN. Additionally, UCLA will make one appearance on Fox Sports Plus when the Bruins take on Baylor in Waco, Texas (Nov. 14).

Pac-12 Networks is scheduled to carry 15 contests, including two non-conference games, Hawai'i (Dec. 4) and Michigan (Dec. 11). The remaining 13 games on the Pac-12 Networks are all league contests – at Washington State (Jan. 6), Oregon State (Jan. 13), Oregon (Jan. 15), at USC (Jan. 18), USC (Jan. 22), Arizona State (Jan. 27), at California (Feb. 3), at Oregon (Feb. 10), at Oregon State (Feb. 12), Washington (Feb. 17), Washington State (Feb. 19), at Arizona (Feb. 24) and at Arizona State (Feb. 26).

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No. 9 UCLA Visits No. 6 South Carolina on Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Monique Billings

Kennedy Burke

Jordin Canada

Lindsey Corsaro

Lajahna Drummer

Kelli Hayes

Ashley Hearn

Nicole Kornet

Kari Korver

Ally Rosenblum

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No. 9 UCLA Visits No. 6 South Carolina on Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Monique Billings

Kennedy Burke

Jordin Canada

Lindsey Corsaro

Lajahna Drummer

Kelli Hayes

Ashley Hearn

Nicole Kornet

Kari Korver

Ally Rosenblum

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