No. 9 UCLA Faces Cal in Pac-12 Quarterfinals

Friday, March 2

Seattle, Wash.

2:00 PM

UCLA

California

Senior Kelli Hayes and the UCLA Bruins enter the Pac-12 Tournament as the No. 4 seed.

Photo by: Don Liebig, UCLA Photography

No. 9 UCLA Faces Cal in Pac-12 Quarterfinals

March 02, 2018 | Women's Basketball

UCLA Game Notes

The Bruins and the Golden Bears square off on Friday, March 2 at 2:05 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.

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SEATTLE – Ninth-ranked and fourth-seeded UCLA (23-6, 14-4) faces fifth-seeded California (21-9, 11-7) in the Pac-12 quarterfinals on Friday, March 2 at 2:05 p.m. PT/5:05 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks with Ann Schatz (play-by-play) and Tammy Blackburn (analyst) calling all of the exciting action. Dave Marcus (play-by-play) will be on the call for the Bruins' internet radio broadcast.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: California (21-9, 11-7)
Series: UCLA leads 51-23 (W, 60-52 at UCLA (Jan. 19, 2018))
Venue: KeyArena at Seattle Center
Date: Friday, March 2, 2018
Tipoff Time: 2:05 p.m. PT/5:05 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Talent: Ann Schatz (play-by-play), Tammy Blackburn (analyst)
Internet Radio: UCLABruins.com
Talent: Dave Marcus (play-by-play)

SERIES HISTORY VS. CALIFORNIA
This is the 75th meeting between California and UCLA with the Bruins holding a 51-23 lead in the series. The Bruins swept the series during the regular season. In this year's earlier meeting at California, the Bruins ran away with an 82-46 win on Dec. 31 to snap a six-game losing streak at Cal. The Bruins were led by Monique Billings' double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Jordin Canada had 16 points and nine assists. Kennedy Burke added 10 points, five assists and four steals as the Bruins had 26 assists on 34 field goals. Kristine Anigwe had a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards to pace Cal. Asha Thomas added 12 points and Mikayla Cowling had 11 points and nine rebounds. In the matchup in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2018, Jordin Canada scored 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, Monique Billings had 14 points and 18 rebounds, and UCLA held off California 60-52. Anigwe had 14 points and five rebounds while Asha Thomas chipped in 14 points. Penina Davidson had eight boards. The Bruins led 29-17 at halftime.

NCAA SEEDING REVEALS
The NCAA had its third and final top-16 reveal on Monday, Feb. 19 and three Pac-12 teams made the list. Oregon was No. 6 overall (2-seed) and UCLA was No. 10 (3-seed). Stanford was No. 16 (4-seed). 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 and UCLA was the No. 10 seed overall. 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.

PAC-12 IN THE RPI
Six Pac-12 teams have RPI in the top 50, as of Feb. 27, 2018. Leading the way is Oregon (No. 8), followed by UCLA (No. 10), Stanford (No. 15), California (No. 40), Oregon State (No. 32) and USC (No. 45).

UCLA IN THE PAC-12 TOURNAMENT
The Bruins are 18-15 (.545) all-time in the Pac-12 Tournament. The Bruins are 4-4 all-time as the No. 4 seed (2003, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2018). The Bruins are 5-0 all-time against California in the Pac-12 Tournament (2002-W, 46-42; 2006-W, 80-63; 2011-W, 63-50; 2013-W, 70-58; 2016-W, 73-67 OT). UCLA Head Coach Cori Close is 6-6 all-time in the Pac-12 Tournament. Last year, the fourth-seeded Bruins defeated #5 Arizona State, 77-68, in the quarterfinals but fell to #1 Oregon State, 63-53, in the semifinals. UCLA won its only Pac-12 Tournament title in 2006, when it was a three-seed. Only Stanford (12), UCLA (1), Arizona State (1), Oregon State (1) and USC (1) have won a Pac-12 Tournament Title.

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) 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 in the history of the league. She currently ranks 18th all-time in the Pac-12 in career points (2,031) and needs 19 to move into 17th (Davellyn Whyte, ARIZ, 2010-13). She is third at UCLA and needs 71 points to take over second (Maylana Martin, 2,101, 1997-2000). Canada, the UCLA all-time assist leader, became the Pac-12's all-time leader at No. 8 Oregon (Feb. 19) with 13 assists (now has 790), surpassing Sonja Henning's 757 assists at Stanford from 1998-91. She also ranks third in Pac-12 history with 322 steals and needs four to take over second (Nikki Blue, UCLA, 325, 2003-06).

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 1,661 points to rank 13th at UCLA and 41st in the Pac-12. She also has 1,109 boards, which ranks third at UCLA and 16th in the Pac-12. Billings, the UCLA all-time leader in blocks (218) just passed Oregon State's Brina Chaney for 8th all-time in Pac-12 history and needs two to move into 7th (Shawntinice Polk, ARIZ, 220, 2003-05).

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 (790), 4th in triple doubles (2), 4th in assists per game (6.03 apg), 5th in steals (322), 8th in free throws made (479), 10th in free throw attempts (603), 11th in steals per game (2.46 spg), 11th in field goal attempts (1,756), 15th in scoring (2,031 points), 15th in field goals made (730) and 43rd in free throw percentage (79.4%).

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 (1,109), 9th in games played (135), 7th in double-doubles (45), 7th in free throw attempts (644), 13th in blocks (218), 24th in free throws made (409), 39th in scoring (1,661 points) and 44th in field goals made (626).

DRUMMER REBOUNDS
Redshirt junior forward Lajahna Drummer has been a rebounding force in 10 of her last 12 games, grabbing at least six boards in 10 of those contests for an average of 8.1 rebounds per game. 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 had 11 points and 11 rebounds in a win at USC (Feb. 5). She also had 10 rebounds in a win over Stanford (Jan. 21) and 11 in a loss at Oregon State (Feb. 16). She has six double-digit rebounding games this year (12 in her career).

ONYENWERE ON OFFENSIVE GLASS
Freshman forward Michaela Onyenwere is one of three UCLA Bruins with more offensive rebounds (76) than defensive boards (65) on the year. Her 76 offensive rebounds is second on the team and her 2.6 orpg ranks 9th in the Pac-12. She is thrid on the team in field goal percentage (.480), and has shown the ability to register steals, recording 1.3 per game, which ranks third on the squad and 16th in the league.

BURKE IS A BALLER
Junior guard Kennedy Burke is one of only two players in the Pac-12 (Sam Thomas, Fr., Arizona) ranked in the top 11 in both steals and blocks (all games). She averages 1.8 steals per game which is second on the team and sixth in the Pac-12. She also averages 1.0 blocks per game, which is also second on the squad and tied for 11th in the league. Burke also ranks third on the team and 27th in the Pac-12 in scoring (10.4 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 made more three-pointers this year than in the previous three combined, going 42-for-120 for 35.0 percent. The number of three-point field goals made is second on the team while she leads in attempts.

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 third on the team in three-point field goals made (35) and in attempts (105). Her 1.8 three-point field goals made per game in Pac-12 play leads the team and ranks 10th in the league. Her 33.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc ranks fourth on the team. She has made at least one three-pointer in 15 of 20 games she has played and hit at multiple treys in a game 10 times this year, including a high of five in wins at Colorado (Jan. 14) and Washington (Jan. 26).

IT'S MILLER TIME
Freshman forward Lauryn Miller leads the squad in field goal percentage at 55.8 percent (24-for-43) 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.

TWO BRUINS NAMED TO WOMEN'S CITIZEN NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LIST (FEB. 12)
The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 30 players in the running for the Citizen Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year honor and UCLA seniors Jordin Canada and Monique Billings have each made the list. From this list, the Naismith Awards Board of Selectors will identify the 10 national semifinalists, to be announced on Feb. 26. Four finalists will be revealed on March 14. The winner will be announced on March 31. With the competition narrowing down to only 30 players, six conferences across the country are represented. The Pac-12 conference leads the late season team with seven players, and the SEC follows closely with six players on the team. UConn, which has won more Citizen Naismith Trophies (10) than any other school, continues to lead the competition with four players listed, followed by Louisville, Mississippi State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and UCLA with two candidates apiece.

CANADA NAMED TOP 10 CANDIDATE FOR 2018 NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD (FEB. 5)
The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced its John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy's® Late Season Top 20 on espnW and UCLA senior point guard Jordin Canada has made the cut. 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 20 student-athletes who are currently the front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor and the John R. Wooden Award All America Team.

BILLINGS NAMED TOP 10 CANDIDATE FOR 2018 LISA LESLIE AWARD (FEB. 1)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced 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.

CANADA NAMED TO DAWN STALEY AWARD 2018 MIDSEASON WATCH LIST (FEB. 1)
The Phoenix Club of Philadelphia announced the Dawn Staley Award 2018 Midseason Watch List and UCLA senior point guard Jordin Canada was one of 15 candidates on the list. Canada and Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu, were the only two representatives from the Pac-12 to be named to the list.

CANADA NAMED TOP 10 CANDIDATE FOR 2018 NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD (JAN. 29)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the 10 candidates for the 2018 Nancy Lieberman Award 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.

TWO BRUINS NAMED TO JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD MIDSEASON TOP 25 (JAN. 11)
The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced its John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy's® Midseason Top 25 on espnW.com. 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 (NOV. 30)
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.