LOS ANGELES – A rematch of one of the most exciting games of the 2018-19 Pac-12 regular season will tip-off the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, as the 25th-ranked and fourth-seeded UCLA Bruins will battle 20th-ranked and fifth-seeded Arizona State on Friday at 11:30 a.m. (PT).
In a critical game for UCLA (19-11, 12-6) that halted a four-game losing skid and ultimately sparked a 10-of-12 finish for the Bruins, it was senior guard Japreece Dean who nailed the game-winning 3-pointer with just nine seconds left, propelling the team to a 61-59 win over the Sun Devils (20-9, 10-7).
How to Follow
Friday's matchup will air on the Pac-12 Network, as Ann Schatz (play-by-play) and Tammy Blackburn (analyst) will have the call. Fans can listen online (play-by-play: Dave Marcus) and follow live stats via uclabruins.com. Live updates will be provided on Twitter by following @UCLAwbb.
Matchup: No. 25 UCLA (19-11, 12-6) vs. No. 20 Arizona State (20-9, 10-7)
March 8, 2019 | 11:30 a.m. PT | Las Vegas (MGM Arena)
Series History
Thanks to the thrilling two-point win at Arizona State on Jan. 25, UCLA extended its all-time series lead to 55-28 and 23-16 in Tempe, Ariz. The Bruins are 29-10 at home vs. the Sun Devils and 3-2 at neutral sites, having met Arizona State five times (3-2) in the conference tournament. During the 2016-17 season, UCLA eliminated Arizona State in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals, outscoring the Sun Devils by 19 in the first quarter to pull away for a 77-68 win. Kennedy Burke, a sophomore at the time, scored 12 points, while rising superstar Jordin Canada had a game-high 24 points and seven assists.
UCLA's Last Time Out
The Bruins breezed past Colorado on Senior Day, 84-50, getting a combined 33 points and five steals from Michaela Onyenwere and Kennedy Burke. UCLA held Colorado without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes between the first and second quarters and ultimately confined the Buffaloes to 27.6 percent shooting, the second-lowest percentage allowed by the Bruins all season.
Trio Earns All-Pac-12 Recognition
Michaela Onyenwere, Kennedy Burke and Lindsey Corsaro were each recognized by the Pac-12 when the league unveiled all-conference awards on March 4. Onyenwere, who averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 rebounds, including 3.9 offensive boards per outing, was named to the All-Pac-12 team. Burke earned All-Defensive team honors and was named to All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, while Corsaro, a redshirt freshman out of Indianapolis, garnered All-Freshman team honors.
She's Coming Back
On March 7, the UCLA women's basketball program announced that Japreece Dean would be granted one more year of eligibility. A native of Austin, Texas, Dean ranks third on the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game and leads the team in assists per outing (4.8). She also leads the Pac-12 and ranks sixth nationally in free throw percentage, shooting 92.2 percent.
Close Named Media Pac-12 Coach of the Year
It turns out losing two first-round WNBA draft picks doesn't mean the end of the world. However, it does take a good coach to keep things rolling. Cori Close was recognized by the media as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year, as she led the Bruins to a fourth-place finish at 12-6 overall. The Bruins won 10 of their last 12 games in the regular season and collected four road wins over ranked opponents, the most since 1980-81. Close coached a team that had entirely different roles from a year ago and got the team to evolve by late January. After starting the year 3-5, UCLA finished 16-6.
Reppin' the Pac-12 in the Polls
UCLA remained idle in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll at No. 25. Ever since UCLA knocked off then-ranked No. 2 Oregon in Eugene, the Bruins have earned a spot in the field.
There are a total of five teams from the Pac-12 Conference ranked in the top 25.
69-for-70
(See above) – that's what Japreece Dean has done at the charity stripe, and it's not a typo. The senior out of Austin, Texas, who holds the Bruins' school record for consecutive free throw makes (40 – just four shy of tying the Pac-12 record), has made 98.6 percent of her free throws since UCLA's Nov. 24 game against South Florida. This hot streak has been highlighted by a 12-for-12 effort vs. Fresno and 10-for-10 mark at Utah. She is on pace to top Anne Dean's single-season record of 91.9 percent (68-for-74) set in 1984-85.
500 & Counting
Michaela Onyenwere is having a breakout year and has scored 20 or more 14 times this season, including eight 25-plus point games. On March 1 against Utah, she reached 500 points on the year, making her the seventh sophomore in program history to achieve the feat. In addition to 11 double-doubles, Onyenwere has scored in double figures in 18 straight games. She has matched a career-high 29 points three times. In Pac-12 play, She has made 18 3-pointers this season, all of which have come in Pac-12 play (only had one last year).
The Race to 900
This season, Lajahna Drummer became the 10th player in program history with 800 career rebounds, and she currently sits 63 boards away from 900, which would make her the eighth Bruin to do so. With an 11-rebound performance at then-ranked No. 12 Oregon State, Drummer moved to No. 8 all-time for career rebounds, passing legend Ann Meyers (819; 1975-78).
Comeback Kids
UCLA's 22-point comeback against No. 2 Oregon was the largest under Cori Close and the biggest win for UCLA since the Bruins knocked off then-ranked No. 2 Stanford, 69-56, on Jan. 4, 2008. UCLA collected its eighth win over a top-10 AP team under Cori Close (8-32).
Road Warriors
UCLA earned four road wins over ranked opponents this season, the most in a single season since 1980-81, when the Bruins were awarded five wins (fifth thanks to a forfeit by South Carolina on Jan. 5, 1981). UCLA finished its road slate at 8-3 overall and 7-2 in Pac-12 play.
UCLA Team Snippets
* Four of UCLA's five wins over ranked opponents this season came on the road (California, Arizona State, Utah, Oregon), the second-most road wins over ranked opponents in program history.
* UCLA has outrebounded its opponent in all but five games this season. The Bruins haul in 42 rebounds per game, good for first in the Pac-12 and 28th nationally.
* The Bruins are fourth in the Pac-12 and 28th nationally in rebound margin (6.9).
* UCLA forces 15.5 turnovers per game, ranking fourth in the Pac-12.
* The Bruins are 13-1 when tied or leading at the half.
* UCLA ranks second in the Pac-12 in free throw attempts (562).
UCLA Player Snippets * One of 15 members of the All-Pac-12 women's basketball team.
* Ranks second in the Pac-12 and 20th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.0).
* Averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in Pac-12 play. She was one of four players in the conference to average at least 20 points in Pac-12 action during the regular season.
* Has tallied 21 or more points in five of the last eight games.
* Has scored in double figures in 18 straight games.
* Has 14 20-plus point games on the year, including eight 25-plus point games.
* All-Pac-12 Defensive Team; All-12-Pac Honorable Mention.
* 22nd player in program history with 500 career field goals (545-for-1,202).
* One of four players in program history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks.
* No. 18 on UCLA's all-time scoring list (1,419).
* No. 7 all-time in career games played (133).
* Tied with Jordin Canada for No. 10 all-time in 3-pointers made (99).
* During the regular season, shot 49.3 percent, ranking sixth in the conference.
* 10th player in program history with 800 career rebounds.
* Ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in rebounds per game with 8.9 per outing. She had a career-high 17 at Arizona on Jan. 27.
* Ranks 8th all-time in program history in career rebounds (837).
* Scored a career-high 28 points vs. California on Feb. 17.
* Saw her school-record free throw streak end at 40 in a row on Feb. 8 at Colorado, a streak that began on Nov. 24 vs. South Florida. Her current streak is back at 29 in a row.
* Leads the Pac-12 in free throw percentage and is on pace to set UCLA's single season record, shooting 92.2 percent (83-for-90).
* Averaged 5.6 assists per game during the Pac-12 regular season, ranking fourth in the conference.
* All-Pac-12 Freshman team.
* Has matched her career high of 15 points, twice.
Up Next
Should the Bruins come out victories, they will play top-seeded Oregon, Arizona or USC in the semifinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. (PT).
In a critical game for UCLA (19-11, 12-6) that halted a four-game losing skid and ultimately sparked a 10-of-12 finish for the Bruins, it was senior guard Japreece Dean who nailed the game-winning 3-pointer with just nine seconds left, propelling the team to a 61-59 win over the Sun Devils (20-9, 10-7).
How to Follow
Friday's matchup will air on the Pac-12 Network, as Ann Schatz (play-by-play) and Tammy Blackburn (analyst) will have the call. Fans can listen online (play-by-play: Dave Marcus) and follow live stats via uclabruins.com. Live updates will be provided on Twitter by following @UCLAwbb.
Matchup: No. 25 UCLA (19-11, 12-6) vs. No. 20 Arizona State (20-9, 10-7)
March 8, 2019 | 11:30 a.m. PT | Las Vegas (MGM Arena)
Series History
Thanks to the thrilling two-point win at Arizona State on Jan. 25, UCLA extended its all-time series lead to 55-28 and 23-16 in Tempe, Ariz. The Bruins are 29-10 at home vs. the Sun Devils and 3-2 at neutral sites, having met Arizona State five times (3-2) in the conference tournament. During the 2016-17 season, UCLA eliminated Arizona State in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals, outscoring the Sun Devils by 19 in the first quarter to pull away for a 77-68 win. Kennedy Burke, a sophomore at the time, scored 12 points, while rising superstar Jordin Canada had a game-high 24 points and seven assists.
UCLA's Last Time Out
The Bruins breezed past Colorado on Senior Day, 84-50, getting a combined 33 points and five steals from Michaela Onyenwere and Kennedy Burke. UCLA held Colorado without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes between the first and second quarters and ultimately confined the Buffaloes to 27.6 percent shooting, the second-lowest percentage allowed by the Bruins all season.
Trio Earns All-Pac-12 Recognition
Michaela Onyenwere, Kennedy Burke and Lindsey Corsaro were each recognized by the Pac-12 when the league unveiled all-conference awards on March 4. Onyenwere, who averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 rebounds, including 3.9 offensive boards per outing, was named to the All-Pac-12 team. Burke earned All-Defensive team honors and was named to All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, while Corsaro, a redshirt freshman out of Indianapolis, garnered All-Freshman team honors.
She's Coming Back
On March 7, the UCLA women's basketball program announced that Japreece Dean would be granted one more year of eligibility. A native of Austin, Texas, Dean ranks third on the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game and leads the team in assists per outing (4.8). She also leads the Pac-12 and ranks sixth nationally in free throw percentage, shooting 92.2 percent.
Close Named Media Pac-12 Coach of the Year
It turns out losing two first-round WNBA draft picks doesn't mean the end of the world. However, it does take a good coach to keep things rolling. Cori Close was recognized by the media as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year, as she led the Bruins to a fourth-place finish at 12-6 overall. The Bruins won 10 of their last 12 games in the regular season and collected four road wins over ranked opponents, the most since 1980-81. Close coached a team that had entirely different roles from a year ago and got the team to evolve by late January. After starting the year 3-5, UCLA finished 16-6.
Reppin' the Pac-12 in the Polls
UCLA remained idle in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll at No. 25. Ever since UCLA knocked off then-ranked No. 2 Oregon in Eugene, the Bruins have earned a spot in the field.
There are a total of five teams from the Pac-12 Conference ranked in the top 25.
69-for-70
(See above) – that's what Japreece Dean has done at the charity stripe, and it's not a typo. The senior out of Austin, Texas, who holds the Bruins' school record for consecutive free throw makes (40 – just four shy of tying the Pac-12 record), has made 98.6 percent of her free throws since UCLA's Nov. 24 game against South Florida. This hot streak has been highlighted by a 12-for-12 effort vs. Fresno and 10-for-10 mark at Utah. She is on pace to top Anne Dean's single-season record of 91.9 percent (68-for-74) set in 1984-85.
500 & Counting
Michaela Onyenwere is having a breakout year and has scored 20 or more 14 times this season, including eight 25-plus point games. On March 1 against Utah, she reached 500 points on the year, making her the seventh sophomore in program history to achieve the feat. In addition to 11 double-doubles, Onyenwere has scored in double figures in 18 straight games. She has matched a career-high 29 points three times. In Pac-12 play, She has made 18 3-pointers this season, all of which have come in Pac-12 play (only had one last year).
The Race to 900
This season, Lajahna Drummer became the 10th player in program history with 800 career rebounds, and she currently sits 63 boards away from 900, which would make her the eighth Bruin to do so. With an 11-rebound performance at then-ranked No. 12 Oregon State, Drummer moved to No. 8 all-time for career rebounds, passing legend Ann Meyers (819; 1975-78).
Comeback Kids
UCLA's 22-point comeback against No. 2 Oregon was the largest under Cori Close and the biggest win for UCLA since the Bruins knocked off then-ranked No. 2 Stanford, 69-56, on Jan. 4, 2008. UCLA collected its eighth win over a top-10 AP team under Cori Close (8-32).
Road Warriors
UCLA earned four road wins over ranked opponents this season, the most in a single season since 1980-81, when the Bruins were awarded five wins (fifth thanks to a forfeit by South Carolina on Jan. 5, 1981). UCLA finished its road slate at 8-3 overall and 7-2 in Pac-12 play.
UCLA Team Snippets
- Road warriors
* Four of UCLA's five wins over ranked opponents this season came on the road (California, Arizona State, Utah, Oregon), the second-most road wins over ranked opponents in program history.
- Dominance on glass
* UCLA has outrebounded its opponent in all but five games this season. The Bruins haul in 42 rebounds per game, good for first in the Pac-12 and 28th nationally.
* The Bruins are fourth in the Pac-12 and 28th nationally in rebound margin (6.9).
- Tough on 'D'
* UCLA forces 15.5 turnovers per game, ranking fourth in the Pac-12.
- Keeping leads
* The Bruins are 13-1 when tied or leading at the half.
- Extra opportunities
* UCLA ranks second in the Pac-12 in free throw attempts (562).
UCLA Player Snippets * One of 15 members of the All-Pac-12 women's basketball team.
* Ranks second in the Pac-12 and 20th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.0).
* Averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in Pac-12 play. She was one of four players in the conference to average at least 20 points in Pac-12 action during the regular season.
* Has tallied 21 or more points in five of the last eight games.
* Has scored in double figures in 18 straight games.
* Has 14 20-plus point games on the year, including eight 25-plus point games.
* All-Pac-12 Defensive Team; All-12-Pac Honorable Mention.
* 22nd player in program history with 500 career field goals (545-for-1,202).
* One of four players in program history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks.
* No. 18 on UCLA's all-time scoring list (1,419).
* No. 7 all-time in career games played (133).
* Tied with Jordin Canada for No. 10 all-time in 3-pointers made (99).
* During the regular season, shot 49.3 percent, ranking sixth in the conference.
* 10th player in program history with 800 career rebounds.
* Ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in rebounds per game with 8.9 per outing. She had a career-high 17 at Arizona on Jan. 27.
* Ranks 8th all-time in program history in career rebounds (837).
* Scored a career-high 28 points vs. California on Feb. 17.
* Saw her school-record free throw streak end at 40 in a row on Feb. 8 at Colorado, a streak that began on Nov. 24 vs. South Florida. Her current streak is back at 29 in a row.
* Leads the Pac-12 in free throw percentage and is on pace to set UCLA's single season record, shooting 92.2 percent (83-for-90).
* Averaged 5.6 assists per game during the Pac-12 regular season, ranking fourth in the conference.
* All-Pac-12 Freshman team.
* Has matched her career high of 15 points, twice.
Up Next
Should the Bruins come out victories, they will play top-seeded Oregon, Arizona or USC in the semifinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. (PT).