No. 10 UCLA Hits the Road to Face Georgia

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LOS ANGELES – The 10th-ranked UCLA women's basketball team (9-0) hits the road to conclude the 2019-20 non-conference slate this week. The Bruins will first make a stop at Georgia (7-3) before heading to Indiana to face the 12th-ranked Hoosiers. UCLA will tip-off at Georgia on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 11:02 a.m. ET/8:02 a.m. PT in Stegeman Coliseum. The game will be televised on ESPN+ with Brenda VanLengen and Christy Thomaskutty calling all of the exciting action.

GAME INFORMATION
No. 10 UCLA (9-0) at Georgia (7-3)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 19
Time: 8:02 a.m. PT/11:02 a.m. ET
Location: Athens, Ga. (Stegeman Coliseum)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Live Audio (Play-By-Play: Dave Marcus)
Statistics: Live Stats

SERIES HISTORY
This is the seventh meeting between UCLA and Georgia with the all-time series tied 3-3. The Bruins won the last meeting in the series in Pauley Pavilion, 80-69, last year on Nov. 14, 2018. Michaela Onyenwere registered a then-career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds, and the No. 23 UCLA women's basketball team used an 18-4 run to close out (No. 14/13) Georgia and complete the upset. UCLA trailed by as many as 12 in the contest but used a concerted effort both on the glass and the defensive end to get back in it, and behind 30 second half points combined between Onyenwere and Kennedy Burke, the Bruins were able to walk off the court victorious on Field Trip Day at Pauley Pavilion. Onyenwere collected her fourth career double-double and also posted a career-high four assists, while Burke finished with 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting to go along with four steals, four assists and four rebounds. Japreece Dean tallied 17 points and five assists to go along with a then-career-high seven made free throws, while Lindsey Corsaro chipped in eight points.

UP NEXT
The Bruins conclude the 2019-20 non-conference slate with a road tilt at No. 12 Indiana (10-1) on Sunday, Dec. 22 (9:00 a.m. PT).

THE STORYLINES

Junior forward Michaela Onyenwere became the 24th player in UCLA history to register 1,000 career points and record 500 rebounds on Dec. 1 at Virginia (1,055 points, 526 rebounds).
UCLA (9-0) is off to its best start since the 2010-11 season when the Bruins opened that campaign 10-0. The best start in school history is 12-0, made by the 1980-81 squad.
UCLA is in its ninth season under head coach Cori Close, who is 19 wins away from 200 for her career and owns an overall record of 181-99 (.646).
The Bruins have won 67 of their last 75 games at Pauley Pavilion, including their last eight (6-0 this year). UCLA went 11-5 at home last season.
UCLA established a school record in the win over Loyola Marymount (Nov. 9) with 11 assists in the second quarter. It marked the most assists of any quarter for the Bruins.
In 2018-19, Cori Close led UCLA to its fourth-straight 20-win season and fourth-straight trip to the Sweet 16. UCLA joins a list of eight teams in the NCAA that have made the Sweet 16 each of the past four seasons (Baylor, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Oregon State, South Carolina, Stanford, UConn).
UCLA returns three starters from a year ago, including 2019 All-Pac-12 selection Michaela Onyenwere, who led the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game and became the fourth Bruin in program history to score 600 or more points in a single season.
Also returning for 2019-20 is floor general Japreece Dean, who averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 assists and shot 92.2 percent (107-for-116) from the charity stripe, setting a UCLA single-season record for free throw percentage.
Lindsey Corsaro started all but one game in 2018-19 and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team after she averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 2018-19.
As a team, UCLA shot 73.4 percent from the free throw line last season, the best in program history.
UCLA finished second in the NCAA and first in the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds per game (17.3), and also led the Pac-12 in both free throws made (492) and attempts (670).

BRUIN TRIO TAMES THE TIGERS

Michaela Onyenwere (19 pts, 9 rebs) and Japreece Dean (19 pts, 5 asts) helped UCLA improve to 9-0 on the year with a 68-57 victory over Pacific (Dec. 15).
Freshman Charisma Osborne tied her season-high of 17 points and added a personal-best seven rebounds against the Tigers.

ROSENBLUM RETURNS, ONYENWERE KOs CSUN

Michaela Onyenwere (23 pts, 7 rebs) scored over 20 points for the fourth-straight game, leading UCLA to a 58-44 win at CSUN (Dec. 7).
The game marked the return of Ally Rosenblum, who had not played since the 2017-18 season due to an undisclosed injury. Rosenblum finished the game with three points, one rebound, one steal, and one block in 11 minutes of action.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE DUO TAKES DOWN VIRGINIA

Michaela Onyenwere (27 pts, 11 rebs) and Lauryn Miller (14 pts, 10 rebs) led UCLA to a 73-62 win at Virginia (Dec. 1).
The Bruins also received 12 points and six rebounds from Charisma Osborne and 11 points and three assists from Japreece Dean.

OSBORNE HITS GAME-WINNING 3-POINTER VS. UCF

Her only basket of the game was the biggest as Charisma Osborne drained the eventual-game-winning three-pointer with the shot clock expiring and just 0:53 left to propel UCLA to a 61-56 win over UCF (Nov. 30).
Just two Bruins scored in double-figures, led by Michaela Onyenwere's double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds. Japreece Dean added 19 points and four assists.

DEAN'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE DOOMS YALE

Japreece Dean recorded her first career triple-double, just the eighth in UCLA history, as the Bruins ran over Yale (Nov. 26), 100-65. Dean had 20 points, 10 assists, and a career-high 11 rebounds.
The Bruins had five players in double figures for the only time this season. Joining Dean was Michaela Onyenwere (22), Charisma Osborne (15), Lauryn Miller (14), and Chantel Horvat (11).
The Bruins also made a season-high 10 three-pointers to go with a season-best 29 assists. The 29 assists were the most since UCLA had 29 at Oregon on Feb. 17, 2014. UCLA has only had 29 or more assists on one occasion since 1999 (30 at California on Feb. 19, 2004).

BRUIN TRIO DOWN NORTHERN COLORADO

Natalie Chou led UCLA in scoring for the first time with a season-high 19 points in the blowout win over Northern Colorado (Nov. 22) She also added three rebounds, three assists and two steals against the Bears.
Japreece Dean scored 18 points against UNC. She also tallied seven assists, four boards and two steals.
Lindsey Corsaro registered 16 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in the win over UNC.

DEAN RETURNS, ONYENWERE CRUSHES LBSU

Michaela Onyenwere scored 27 points, including 14 points in the first period, as No. 11 UCLA cruised to an 86-51 win over Long Beach State (Nov. 14). For her efforts, Onyenwere was named the UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week for Nov. 11-17.
The Bruins scored the first 20 points of the game.
Playing in her first game of the season, senior Japreece Dean tallied a career-high 11 assists and added seven points, eight rebounds and one steal vs. the Beach.
Kiara Jefferson scored 13 points and had three steals and three rebounds while Chantel Horvat registered 11 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes of action against LBSU.

ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCES AGAINST LMU

All-around performances from several Bruins helped the No. 11 UCLA women's basketball team take down Loyola Marymount 74-52 on Nov. 9.
Lindsey Corsaro matched a career-high of 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting to go along with six assists.
Lauryn Miller collected her first-career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Natalie Chou played a team-high 32 minutes and had five steals and three blocks to go along with 15 points and seven boards.
Chantel Horvat played in her first game since Jan. 11, 2019, and contributed eight points and eight rebounds.

OSBORNE SHINES IN SEASON OPENER

Freshman Charisma Osborne scored a game-high 17 points in her UCLA debut to lead the Bruins to a dominant 85-45 win over Weber State in their season opener on Nov. 5.
Osborne also had five rebounds and four assists.
Three other Bruins scored in double figures: Onyenwere (16), Corsaro (14) and Jefferson (12).
The Bruins also dominated the glass, 48-31, led by Kayla Owens' career-high 13 rebounds.
UCLA improved to 31-15 all-time in season openers.

ALL-PAC-12 SELECTIONS RETURNING

UCLA returns All-Pac-12 honoree Michaela Onyenwere, the team's top returning scorer (18.3 ppg) and rebounder (8.5 rpg). She eclipsed the 30-point mark at Maryland last season, becoming the second Bruin ever (Nikki Blue) to score at least 30 in the Big Dance and propelling UCLA to its fourth-straight Sweet 16.
Lindsey Corsaro made the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2018-19. She averaged 7.3 PPG and 4.4 RPG and scored a career-high 18 points vs. Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament.

FRESH FACES

UCLA's top-10 recruiting class made its debut in Westwood in the win over Weber State on Nov. 5, 2019. The highly-touted includes McDonald's All-Americans, Jaden Owens and Charisma Osborne, as well as 6-2 forward Brynn Masikewich (DNP) and defensive stopper Camryn Brown (DNP).
After redshirting due to NCAA transfer rules (Baylor), Natalie Chou finally had an opportunity to contribute on the court. She played 64 career games (21 starts) for the Lady Bears, averaging 5.5 PPG and 2.6 RPG.

BRUINS IN THE POLLS

UCLA is ranked No. 10 in the most recent Associated Press (AP) Poll (Week 7 - Dec. 16, 2019) and the USA Today Coaches Poll (Week 6 - Dec. 10, 2019).
UCLA was ranked No. 11 in both the Associated Press (AP) and USA TODAY Sports preseason polls.
The Bruins are one of five Pac-12 teams ranked in the AP and USA Today Polls.
The Pac-12 Conference boasts four teams in the top-10 (No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Oregon State, and No. 10 UCLA).

PRESEASON LOVE FOR THE BRUINS

UCLA earned recognition in several preseason college basketball magazines. The Bruins were picked 11th by Street & Smith's, 12th by Lindy's Sports and 16th by Athlon Sports. In each of those magazines, Michaela Onyenwere was recognized as a Third-Team All-American.
The Bruins were picked as high as 10th by NCAA.com, which placed four Pac-12 teams in the top-10.

HARD WORK IN THE CLASSROOM

The Bruin women's basketball program notched a 100 percent graduation rate in 2018-19, helping UCLA Athletics tally an all-time high Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 92 percent.

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT

Japreece Dean was named to the Watch List for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given to the nation's top point guard. A total of 20 point guards were named to the list, five of which came from the Pac-12. This was the most out of any conference in the NCAA. In 2018-19, Dean finished third on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game and ranked seventh in the Pac-12 in assists per game at 4.9. In the final seven games of the season, she registered 16.7 points and 6.6 assists per outing.
Japreece Dean and Michaela Onyenwere made the Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List. A total of 50 players made the list, which will be trimmed to 30 in early February.
Michaela Onyenwere was one of five forwards from the Pac-12 who earned a spot on the Watch List for the 2020 Cheryl Miller Award, which recognizes the top small forward in the country. Last year, she led the Bruins in scoring (18.3 PPG) and ranked second on the team in rebounds (8.5 RPG). Onyenwere hauled in 4.1 offensive boards – good for second in the Pac-12 and 11th nationally.
Adding to her list of preseason plaudits, Michaela Onyenwere also made the 2019-20 Preseason 'Wade Watch' List, an award given to the best player in women's college basketball. Last season, the award was given to Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon.
Michaela Onyenwere earned a spot on the Women's Preseason Top 30 Watch List on ESPNW for the John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy's®. The list is comprised of 30 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for college basketball's most prestigious honor.
Michaela Onyenwere was selected among the 35 outstanding players by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for its 2019-20 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List. Members of the association's board of directors chose the players to be included on the list as contenders for the National Player of the Year.

ELITE PROGRAM

UCLA eclipsed the 20-win mark and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season under Cori Close.
The Bruins averaged an astounding 17.3 offensive rebounds per game in 2018-19, ranking first in the Pac-12 and second in the NCAA. Over four of those offensive boards came from Michaela Onyenwere, who was 11th in the NCAA in that category.
UCLA took down seven ranked opponents last year.
The Bruins had two top-10 wins, defeating No. 2 Oregon and No. 9 Maryland.
For the fourth-straight season, UCLA finished fourth or higher in the Pac-12 Conference.

ROAD WARRIORS

UCLA finished 9-3 on the road in 2018-19.
Five of UCLA's nine road triumphs were against ranked opponents.
The Bruins' two top-10 road wins were the most by the program since the 1980-81 season.

SUCCESSFUL SCRIMMAGES

UCLA had two closed scrimmages in late October. The Bruins defeated Gonzaga in Spokane by a final count of 77-71. The Bruins shot 54.8 percent from the field and were led by Michaela Onyenwere's 24 points and six rebounds. Charisma Osborne added 12 points and went 8-for-8 from the stripe.
UCLA led by as many as 19 points in a thrilling 67-66 win over Louisville. Five players scored in double figures for the Bruins - Onyenwere, Osborne (14); Chou (12); Corsaro, Owens (11).

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No. 10 UCLA Hits the Road to Face Georgia

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Players Mentioned

Camryn Brown

Kennedy Burke

Natalie Chou

Lindsey Corsaro

Lindsey Corsaro

Japreece Dean

Japreece Dean

Chantel Horvat

Kiara Jefferson

Brynn Masikewich

Lauryn Miller

Michaela Onyenwere

Michaela Onyenwere

Charisma Osborne

Jaden Owens

Kayla Owens

Ally Rosenblum

University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics

No. 10 UCLA Hits the Road to Face Georgia

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Players Mentioned

Camryn Brown

Kennedy Burke

Natalie Chou

Lindsey Corsaro

Lindsey Corsaro

Japreece Dean

Japreece Dean

Chantel Horvat

Kiara Jefferson

Brynn Masikewich

Lauryn Miller

Michaela Onyenwere

Michaela Onyenwere

Charisma Osborne

Jaden Owens

Kayla Owens

Ally Rosenblum

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