No. 7 UCLA Back Home to Face No. 3 Oregon

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GAME INFORMATION
No. 7/8 UCLA (21-2, 10-2) vs. No. 3 Oregon (22-2, 11-1)
Date: Friday, Feb. 14
Time: 8:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom)
Watch: Pac-12 Network (Play-By-Play: Anne Marie Anderson, Tammy Blackburn)
Listen: Live Audio and AM 1150 (Play-By-Play: Dave Marcus)

GAME PREVIEW
UCLA (21-2, 10-2) returns to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom to host No. 3 Oregon (22-2, 11-1). This is the Bruins' fourth ranked opponent in five games, with UCLA taking victories over then-No. 19 Arizona State and then-No. 6 Stanford over the stretch. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network with Dave Marcus on the play-by-play call for UCLA radio at ucla.leanplayer.com. A UCLA victory would give the Bruins' their second top-10 win in three games and send them to the top of the Pac-12 standings.

This is UCLA's annual Play4Kay Pink Game for breast cancer awareness, honoring the life of late NCAA women's basketball coach Kay Yow.

Oregon enters the night riding a 10-game winning streak, including three-straight ranked victories over No. 4 UConn, No. 12 Arizona, and No. 19 Arizona State. The Ducks boast a myriad of weapons, including reigning Wooden Award and Wade Trophy winner Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu is the national leader in assists per game with 8.5 and has tallied six triple-doubles this season. Forward Ruthy Hebard is a dominant presence inside, as the senior is fourth in the country in total field goals (177) and third in field goal percentage at 67.0 percent. Junior forward Satou Sabally has also been highly productive this year, putting up 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds thus far. Put together, the Ducks enter with the nation's top scoring offense at 85.9 points per contest. Oregon ranks in the top 25 in 16 major statistical categories, including a national-best 1.84 assist/turnover ratio. Oregon has tallied 502 assists on the year, good for the second-highest total in the nation.

Today's game is the 71st all-time meeting between the programs, with Oregon holding a 37-33 advantage in the series. The most recent meeting between the teams saw the Bruins take a heartbreaking 88-83 loss in overtime in the semifinal of the Pac-12 Tournament (Mar. 9, 2019). Kennedy Burke notched 27 points and 10 rebounds while Japreece Dean flirted with a triple-double, posting 22 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The loss in the Conference tournament followed a miraculous victory for the Bruins in the second regular-season meeting against Oregon (Feb. 22). UCLA came back from a 22-point deficit in the second quarter to defeat the then-No. 2 Ducks, the biggest win for the program since UCLA knocked off No. 2 Stanford in 2008. Burke tallied 29 points to lead the Bruins on the night while Dean (14 pts) and Michaela Onyenwere (12) each posted double-digit scoring performances.

UP NEXT
The Bruins are back at Pauley on Monday, Feb. 17 to host the No. 11 Oregon State Beavers, the team's fifth ranked opponent in six games. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Dave Marcus will handle play-by-play duties for UCLA Radio on ucla.leanplayer.com.

THE STORYLINES

Cori Close earned her 100th-career Pac-12 victory in the Bruins' victory over No. 6/5 Stanford on Friday, Feb. 7. Close also improved to 193-101 (.656) all-time in her career at UCLA.
UCLA is coming off a road sweep of then-No. 6 Stanford (Feb. 7) and California, the first Bay Area road sweep for the Bruins since 1999.
With UCLA's victory over No. 6/5 Stanford on Friday, Feb. 7, the Bruins improved to 4-1 against ranked opponents this year (at No. 12 Indiana, vs. No. 18 Arizona, at No. 19 Arizona State, at No. 6 Stanford).
Guard Japreece Dean was named a top 10 finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award this past week. The award is presented annually to the nation's best point guard.
Forward Michaela Onyenwere was named a top 10 finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award this past week. The award is presented annually to the nation's best small forward.
UCLA (21-2, 10-2) got 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).
The Bruins have won 21 of their first 23 games for the first time since the 2010-11 season, when the team started the year 22-2.
With Oregon State's loss to Arizona State (Jan. 12), the Bruins became 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 opened the season 5-0 in Conference play for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when the team won its first six Pac-12 games.
The Bruins are leading the Conference in offensive rebounding this year at 16.0 offensive boards per contest. UCLA has also made a habit of getting to the free throw line, making a league-best 12.7 free throws per game. The team is also second in the Conference in fewest turnovers per game at 11.6.
UCLA established a season high with 28 offensive rebounds in the team's victory over Washington (Jan. 24). The Bruins rank ninth in the country in offensive rebounds per game (16.2) and are second in the Pac-12.
Michaela Onyenwere notched a career-high 31 points in UCLA's win over Washington (Jan. 24), adding nine rebounds and two assists in the performance. She also knocked down a career-high 13 field goals.
The Bruins have won 72 of their last 80 games at Pauley Pavilion, including their last 14 (11-0 this year). UCLA went 11-5 at home last season.
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 15 - Feb. 10, 2020) and No. 8 in the USA Today Coaches Poll (Week 15 - Feb. 11, 2020).
The Bruins have been in the top 10 in both national polls in each of the last 10 weeks.
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-12 in the AP Poll (No. 3 Oregon, No. 7 UCLA, No. 8 Stanford, No. 11 Oregon State, and No. 12 Arizona).

UCLA WINS OVERTIME THRILLER AT CALIFORNIA

The No. 10 UCLA women's basketball team won a thrilling overtime game over California at Haas Pavilion, taking a 74-70 win. Junior Michaela Onyenwere broke a 70-70 deadlock with a turnaround jumper at the 25.7 mark in OT, a shot that would prove to be the game-winner in Berkeley.
Onyenwere was the game's leading scorer with 21 points on the afternoon, her 11th 20+ point performance of the year. Freshman Charisma Osborne notched 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists on the night. Natalie Chou added 12 points in the win.

CLOSE EARNS 100TH PAC-12 VICTORY AS UCLA DOWNS NO. 6/5 STANFORD

No. 10 UCLA women's basketball traveled to Maples Pavilion and took down No. 6/5 Stanford, 79-69, giving Michael Price Family Head Women's Basketball Coach Cori Cloes her 100th-career Pac-12 victory.
The Bruins were led by Michaela Onyenwere, who put up 29 points and 10 rebounds on the night. The junior notched her 10th 20+ point performance and sixth double-double of the year. Chantel Horvat notched a career-high 14 points and seven rebounds in the victory.
After the Cardinal cut the Bruins' lead to 63-59 at the 3:03 mark, UCLA responded with three-straight baskets from Horvat, Onyenwere, and Charisma Osborne to take its largest lead of the night (69-59) with 1:25 to play. UCLA would ice the game away at the line and solidify the final score at 79-69.

BRUINS BOUNCE BACK WITH WIN AT NO. 19/20 ARIZONA STATE

UCLA secured a regular season sweep of Arizona State with a 70-61 victory in Tempe. The Bruins outscored the Sun Devils 20-10 in the third quarter and allowed just one ASU offensive rebound in the second half to control the tempo of the final quarters and earn the victory.
Senior guard Japreece Dean led the way for the Bruins with 18 points and four rebounds in the win. She also went 4-for-4 from the line. Freshman guard Charisma Osborne notched 15 points, including 10 in the Bruins' dominant third quarter.
The win was UCLA's ninth-straight over ASU and moved head coach Cori Close to 13-3 all-time against the Sun Devils.

UCLA FALLS ON THE ROAD TO NO. 16/17 ARIZONA

The Bruins took their second loss of the year with a 92-66 defeat at the hands of Arizona at McKale Center. UCLA moved to 18-2 overall and 7-2 in Conference play on the year.
Junior Michaela Onyenwere and freshman Charisma Osborne led the Bruins in scoring, putting up 17 and 14 points, respectively. Onyenwere added 12 rebounds to record her fifth double-double of the season. Freshmen Brynn Masikewich put up a career-high with four points, all in the fourth quarter.
Despite the tough scoreline, UCLA outrebounded Arizona, 37-30, and put up a solid 19 bench points on the night.

BRUINS TAKE DOWN WASHINGTON STATE, SECURE HOME SWEEP

UCLA secured a weekend home sweep with a 66-50 victory over Washington State on Sunday afternoon. The Bruins tied a season-high with 14 steals and added 19 points off Cougar turnovers to control the defensive tempo and secure the victory.
The teams were tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter, but the Bruins went on to outscore WSU 40-19 over the next two quarters to take a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter. After the Cougars cut the deficit to 12 with an 11-0 run in the fourth, the Bruins responded with six-straight points and iced the game away on the offensive glass.
The Bruins were led by junior Michaela Onyenwere, who led all scores with 23 points, good for her ninth 20+ point performance of the year. Freshman Charisma Osborne put up 16 points and five rebounds in the win, while senior Japreece Dean and junior Lauryn Miller each contributed 10 points.

PROTECTING PAULEY

UCLA has been simply dominant in Westwood, winning 71 of its last 79 games at home (.899).
The Bruins are 10-0 at home this season and have won their last 13 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 9-2 on the road in 2019-20. The Bruins have won three true road games against ranked teams this year: at No. 12 Indiana (Dec. 22), at No. 19 Arizona State (Feb. 2), and at No. 6 Stanford (Feb. 7).
The Bruins have now won 18 of their last 23 road games over the last two seasons.
Five of UCLA's nine road triumphs last season were against ranked opponents and the Bruins' two top-10 road wins in 2018-19 were the most for 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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