No. 7/8 UCLA Looks to Secure Regular Season Sweep at USC

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GAME INFORMATION
No. 7/8 UCLA (16-0, 5-0) vs. USC (8-8, 0-5)
Date: Friday, Jan. 17
Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Galen Center)
Watch: Pac-12 Network
Listen: Live Audio and AM 1150 (Play-By-Play: Dave Marcus)

GAME PREVIEW

UCLA (16-0, 5-0) heads across town to Galen Center to take on USC (8-8, 0-5), the second meeting between the rivals this season.

It's been a tale of two seasons for the Bruins and Trojans, as UCLA is off to its best start in program history with 16-straight wins while USC has lost its last five games to move back to .500 on the year. The Trojans went 8-5 in non-conference play, including wins over Virginia (Nov. 9) and Alabama (Nov. 30) and a close loss to current No. 12 Texas A&M (Nov. 23).

UCLA and USC opened Conference play with their first matchup of the year on Dec. 29, a game that saw the Bruins secure a dominant 83-59 victory at Pauley. Michaela Onyenwere and Japreece Dean each put up 21 points in the victory, while Charisma Osborne (12 pts) and Lauryn Miller (11 pts) also notched double-digit scoring performances. The Bruins had some trouble dealing with USC freshman Alyssa Pili, who recorded a career-high 28 points on the night. The Bruins have won their last four Conference games since the first crosstown matchup of the year while the Trojans have lost their last four. USC has a prominent strength at the free throw line as the Trojans lead the Conference in free throw percentage (.776) and are second in the league in free throws made per game (12.4). USC has also demonstrated strong perimeter defense, holding opponents to 25.6 percent from beyond the arc.

This is the 94th all-time meeting between the L.A. programs with the Trojans holding a 49-44 series advantage. With the Bruins' win in their first game against the Trojans earlier this year, head coach Cori Close improved to 11-6 against USC.

UP NEXT
The Bruins head back home on Friday, Jan. 24 as they welcome Washington to Pauley Pavilion. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. PT tip-off with Pac-12 Networks on the television call.

THE STORYLINES

UCLA (16-0, 5-0) is off to the best start in program history with 16-straight wins to open the season. The Bruins surpassed the 1980-81 squad's original streak of 12-straight wins to start the year with a 68-66 win over Arizona State (Jan. 3).
With Oregon State's loss to Arizona State (Jan. 12), the Bruins are the last remaining undefeated team in the nation at 16-0. This is the first time the last undefeated team in the nation has been from the Pac-12.
The Bruins are 5-0 in Conference play for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when the team won its first six Pac-12 games.
UCLA is in its ninth season under head coach Cori Close, who is 12 wins away from 200 for her career and owns an overall record of 188-99 (.655).
Since league play began, UCLA is leading the Conference in total points (370), three-pointers made per game (9.4), and three-point percentage (.439).
With her 100th-career steal against Arizona (Jan. 5), junior forward Michaela Onyenwere became the 23rd player in UCLA history to register 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, and 100 career steals (1,184 pts, 588 reb, 102 steals).
The Bruins have won 70 of their last 78 games at Pauley Pavilion, including their last 12 (9-0 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).

BRUINS IN THE POLLS

UCLA is ranked No. 7 in the most recent Associated Press (AP) Poll (Week 11 - Jan. 13, 2020) and No. 8 in the USA Today Coaches Poll (Week 10 - Jan. 14, 2020).
UCLA was ranked No. 11 in both the Associated Press (AP) and USA TODAY Coaches preseason polls.
The Bruins are one of six Pac-12 teams ranked in both the AP and USA Today Polls.
The Pac-12 Conference boasts four teams in the top-10 in the AP Poll (No. 3 Stanford, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 UCLA, and No. 9 Oregon State).

UCLA EDGES COLORADO IN GAME OF RUNS

The Bruins survived a late rally by Colorado, holding on for a 65-62 win to improve to 16-0 overall become the nation's last undefeated team. UCLA also went to 5-0 in Conference play for the first time since the 2002-03 squad won its first six conference matchups.
The Bruins led by as many as 25 points late in the third quarter, but Colorado ended the frame on an 11-0 to cut into the deficit. The Buffs outscored the Bruins 22-11 in the fourth, but missed a three-point attempt that would have tied the game with three seconds left.
Junior Michaela Onyenwere led all scores with 19 points and added eight rebounds in the win. Senior Japreece Dean and freshman Charisma Osborne each contributed 13 points.

UCLA PASSES FIRST ROAD TEST OF 2020

UCLA continued its record-setting start to the season in its 84-54 victory over Utah, improving to 15-0 to extend its program record for most consecutive wins to start a season. The win also moved the Bruins to 4-0 in Conference play for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
After a fairly tight game through three quarters, the Bruins exploded for 35 points in the fourth and held the Utes to just 12 points in the final frame to secure a 30-point victory.
Freshman Charisma Osborne had 17 points on the night and hit a career-high five three-pointers. Junior Michaela Onyenwere led all scores with 18 points and added nine rebounds in the victory. Senior Japreece Dean notched four assists and eclipsed the 300-assist milestone for her UCLA career.

BRUINS VICTORIOUS IN BATTLE OF RANKED, UNBEATEN SQUADS

The Bruins snapped the nation's longest active-winning streak in their victory over then-No. 18 Arizona, 70-58, as the Wildcats were 13-0 and had won 19-straight games dating back to their WNIT Championship run last year.
UCLA improved to 14-0 (3-0) and extended its own program record for most consecutive wins to start a season. The game was tied at 31 at halftime, but the Bruins outscored the Wildcats 28-13 in the third quarter en route to the 12-point victory.
Michaela Onyenwere led the way for the Bruins, totaling 18 points and 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Chantel Horvat notched 10 points and 10 rebounds for her first-career double-double.

UCLA MAKES HISTORY IN WIN OVER ARIZONA STATE

The Bruins earned their place in history after defeating Arizona State, 68-66, and moving to 13-0, sealing the best start to a season in program history. The 2019-20 team surpassed the 12-0 mark set by the 1980-81 Bruins.
Japreece dean led a trio of Bruins in double figures with 23 points and added five assists and three rebounds.
Lindsey Corsaro added 12 points while Charisma Osborne chipped in 10 points (all in the first half).
Lauryn Miller put up eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds, her third 10+ rebound performance in the last four games.

UCLA DOWNS USC TO TIE SCHOOL RECORD

The Bruins defeated USC, 83-59 (Dec. 29) to move to 12-0, tied for the most wins to open a season in program history (1980-81).
Junior Michaela Onyenwere and senior Japreece Dean each notched 21 points in the victory. Onyenwere also grabbed eight boards while Dean dished out eight assists and grabbed three steals.
Charisma Osborne recorded her first-career double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. The freshman also added two blocks and two steals in the victory.

PROTECTING PAULEY

UCLA has been simply dominant in Westwood, winning 70 of its last 78 games at home (.897).
The Bruins are 9-0 at home this season and have won their last 12 games in Westwood dating back to last season.
The Bruins went 46-3 at home between 2015-16 and 2017-18.

ROAD WARRIORS

UCLA is 6-0 on the road in 2019-20 and has won its last seven games on the road. Additionally, UCLA has won nine in a row on the road against unranked teams and two against ranked teams.
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.

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.

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.

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No. 7/8 UCLA Looks to Secure Regular Season Sweep at USC

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Brynn Masikewich

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No. 7/8 UCLA Looks to Secure Regular Season Sweep at USC

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Camryn Brown

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Brynn Masikewich

Lauryn Miller

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Charisma Osborne

Jaden Owens

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