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LOS ANGELES – No. 9 UCLA (18-4, 9-2) travels to crosstown rival USC (15-7, 5-6) in the second of two games in four days against the Trojans on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. The game is slated for a 6:06 p.m. PT/9:06 p.m. ET tip-off live on the Pac-12 Network with Anne Marie Anderson (play-by-play) and Maylana Martin (analyst) calling all of the exciting action. Additionally, this is the second of four games the UCLA Bruins will have on the radio at KEIB AM-1150 with Dave Marcus (play-by-play) and Nicole Kornet (analyst) on the call.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: USC (15-7, 5-6)
Series: USC leads 48-41 (W, 59-46 at UCLA (Feb. 2, 2018))
Venue (Capacity): Galen Center (10,258)
Date: Monday, Feb. 5, 2018
Tipoff Time: 6:06 p.m. (PT)/9:06 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
Talent: Anne Marie Anderson (play-by-play), Maylana Martin (analyst)
Radio: KEIB AM-1150
Talent: Dave Marcus (play-by-play), Nicole Kornet (analyst)
SERIES HISTORY VS. USC
This is the 90th meeting between USC and UCLA with the Trojans holding a 48-41 lead in the series. UCLA has won six of the last seven overall meetings, including the last three. Last year, the Bruins went to USC and posted a 74-59 win on Jan. 18, 2017 and four days later, held off the Trojans in Pauley Pavilion for a 71-67 victory. On Friday, UCLA scored the first 10 points, never trailed, and powered past USC for a 59-46 win at home. Jordin Canada had 16 points and nine assists while Monique Billings had her 40th double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Kelli Hayes was the only other Bruin in double figures with 11 points and six boards. Kristen Simon led USC with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Minyon Moore was the only other Trojan to score in double digits with 10 points.
NCAA SEEDING REVEAL
The NCAA had its second top-16 reveal on Thursday, Feb. 1. In the second reveal on Feb. 1, Oregon and UCLA were the Pac-12 teams among the top 16. The Ducks were No. 5 overall, a two-seed, and UCLA was the No. 10 seed overall, which would be a three-seed. In the first reveal on Jan. 18, Oregon and UCLA were the Pac-12 teams among the top 16. The Ducks were No. 4 and UCLA was the No. 12 seed overall. One more top-16 reveal is scheduled this season to take place on Monday, February 19, during ESPN2's Big Monday/Play4Kay tripleheader that includes Florida State at Duke (6 p.m.), Baylor at Texas (8 p.m. ET) and UCLA at Oregon (10 p.m. ET).
PAC-12 IN THE RPI
Six Pac-12 teams have RPI in the top 50, as of Feb. 2, 2018. Leading the way is Oregon (No. 5) followed by UCLA (No. 10), Stanford (No. 19), Arizona State (No. 32), California (No. 34) and USC (44). Oregon State is just outside the top 50, coming in at No. 52.
CANADA MAKING HISTORY
UCLA's Jordin Canada became the first woman in Pac-12 history to score 1,800 points and dish out 700 assists (UCLA record) three weeks ago at Utah and Colorado (Jan. 12 & 14). She is in exclusive company in all of Pac-12 basketball as well, joining Gary Payton (2,172 points, 938 assists, Oregon State, 1987-90) on the men's side as the only two players to accomplish the feat. She currently ranks 25th all-time in the Pac-12 in career points (1,901) and needs 28 to move into 24th (Giuliana Mendiola, UW, 1928, 2001-04). She is third at UCLA and needs 201 points to take over second (Maylana Martin, 2,101, 1997-2000). Canada, the UCLA all-time assist leader ranks third in Pac-12 history in career assists (725). Threatening the career assists mark that has stood since 1990-91, she needs just 32 more to match the record. She also ranks fourth in Pac-12 history with 305 steals and needs five to move into third (Tammy Story, USC, 309, 1989-92).
TOP BILLINGS
UCLA's Monique Billings became the third woman in UCLA history and the 14th in Pac-12 history to score 1,500 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career in the win over Stanford (Jan. 21). She now has 1,546 points to rank 16th at UCLA and 56th in the Pac-12. She also has 1,043 boards, which ranks third at UCLA and 16th in the Pac-12. Billings, the UCLA all-time leader in blocks (208) just passed Oregon State's Brina Chaney for 8th all-time in Pac-12 history.
CANADA AMONG NATION'S BEST
Senior point guard Jordin Canada is listed on many statistical charts among the nation's active players in the NCAA for the 2017-18 season. She is currently 2nd in assists (725), 4th in triple doubles (2), 4th in assists per game (5.85 apg), 5th in steals (305), 6th in free throws made (451), 10th in steals per game (2.46 spg), 11th in field goal attempts (1,650), 12th in free throw attempts (571), 15th in scoring (1,901 points), 16th in field goals made (686) and 36th in free throw percentage (79.0%).
BILLINGS AMONG NATION'S BEST
Senior forward Monique Billings is also listed on many statistical charts among the nation's active players in the NCAA for the 2017-18 season. She is currently 4th in rebounding (1,043), 8th in free throw attempts (595), 8th in double-doubles (40), 8th in games played (128), 12th in blocks (208), 24th in free throws made (376), 40th in scoring (1,546 points) and 42nd in field goals made (585).
DRUMMER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Redshirt junior forward Lajahna Drummer has been a rebounding force in each of her last five games, grabbing at least six boards in each of those contests for an average of 9.2 rebounds per game. Last week, she had a career-high-tying 14 boards in a win at Washington State (Jan. 28) and scored 10 points for the second double-double of her career. She has recorded double-digit rebounding nights four times this year and 10 times in her career.
ONYENWERE ON OFFENSIVE GLASS
Freshman forward Michaela Onyenwere is one of three UCLA Bruins with more offensive rebounds (54) than defensive boards (48) on the year. Her 54 offensive rebounds is second on the team and her 2.5 orpg ranks 10th in the Pac-12. She also ranks 14th in the league in field goal percentage (.478), which is second on the team. She has also shown the ability to register steals, recording 1.3 per game, which ranks third on the squad and 18th in the league.
BURKE IS A BALLER
Junior guard Kennedy Burke is one of only two players ranked in the Pac-12 in the top 15 in both steals and blocks. She averages 1.9 steals per game which is second on the team and fourth in the Pac-12. She also averages 0.9 blocks per game, which is also second on the squad and tied for 15th in the league. She is joined by Arizona freshman Sam Thomas, who is 7th in blocks (1.4 bpg) and tied for 12th in steals (1.5 spg). Burke also ranks third on the team and 26th in the Pac-12 in scoring (10.6 ppg).
HAYES FOR THREE
Senior guard Kelli Hayes entered her senior season shooting 23.0 percent (17-for-74) from three-point range. This season, it has become a strength, as she has already made more threes this year than in the previous three combined, going 33-for-91 for 36.3 percent. The number of three-point field goals made and attempted by Hayes this season are tops on the squad. She is 15th in the Pac-12 on the year, averaging 1.5 made three-pointers per game.
ON THE DEAN'S LIST
Junior guard Japreece Dean missed the first nine games of the year due to NCAA transfer rules, but she is quickly making up for lost time. She is already third on the team in both three-point field goals made (24) and attempted (68). Her 2.0 three-point field goals made per game in Pac-12 play leads the team and ranks fifth in the league. Her 35.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc ranks fourth on the team.
IT'S MILLER TIME
Freshman forward Lauryn Miller leads the squad in field goal percentage at 60.5 percent (23-for-38) on the season. The number of makes don't qualify her for the Pac-12 or NCAA rankings, but she has shown signs of brilliance in her first collegiate campaign, logging six perfect games without a miss from the field.
BIG MACS ON CAMPUS
UCLA's roster features a school-record five McDonald's All-Americans in 2017-18 as freshman forward Michaela Onyenwere (2017) joins redshirt freshman guard Lindsey Corsaro (2016), junior forward Ashley Hearn (2015), redshirt junior forward Lajahna Drummer (2014) and senior point guard Jordin Canada (2014) as current Bruins that have played in the McDonald's All-American Game.
CANADA NAMED TOP 10 CANDIDATE FOR 2018 NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the 10 candidates for the 2018 Nancy Lieberman Award on Jan. 29 and UCLA senior point guard Jordin Canada has made the list. Now in its 19th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of 1996 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Nancy Lieberman. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalists to determine the Naismith Starting 5. The winner of the 2018 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award will be announced during ESPN2's telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30.
BILLINGS NAMED TOP 10 CANDIDATE FOR 2018 LISA LESLIE AWARD
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Feb. 1 the 10 candidates for the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award and UCLA senior Monique Billings has made the list. Named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year and a 2015 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalists to determine the Naismith Starting 5. The winner of the 2018 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be announced during ESPN2's telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30.
TWO BRUINS NAMED TO JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD MIDSEASON TOP 25
The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced its John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy's® Midseason Top 25 on espnW.com (Jan. 11). Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the 2017-18 season, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor. UCLA seniors Jordin Canada and Monique Billings have both made the Top 25. Five schools have multiple players on the list, led by Connecticut with four selections (Napheesa Collier, Kia Nurse, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Gabby Williams), followed by four schools with two selections each: Mississippi State (McCowan and Victoria Vivians), Tennessee (Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell), Texas (Ariel Atkins and Brooke McCarty), and UCLA (Billings and Canada). The SEC leads all conferences with seven selections on the Midseason Top 25, followed by the ACC, Pac-12, and The American with four selections apiece.
TWO BRUINS NAMED TO WOMEN'S CITIZEN NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LIST
To continue its momentum into the 50th celebration season of the Citizen Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced 50 women's college basketball players to watch for the Citizen Naismith Player of the Year Trophy. A list of the midseason 30 team will be released on Feb. 12, 2018. UCLA seniors Jordin Canada and Monique Billings were each selected and were two of seven players from the Pac-12 Conference also on the watch list. With nine different conferences represented on the list, the players come from across the country. A total of 10 candidates represent the ACC, and the SEC follows closely with nine players on the Watch List. UConn, which has won more Citizen Naismith Trophies (10) than any other school, leads the Watch List with six players, followed by Notre Dame with four candidates and Ohio State and Mississippi State with three candidates apiece.