UCLA Bruins (9-6, 4-4) vs. No. 2 Stanford (16-3, 7-0)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 3
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom)
Watch: ESPN (Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Andraya Carter)
Radio: ucla.leanplayer.com (Dave Marcus)
SERIES HISTORY / SCOUTING REPORT: Stanford Cardinal
Thursday's matchup between UCLA and Stanford is the 93rd all-time matchup between the programs. Stanford holds a 65-27 lead in the series, with the Bruins most recently defeating the Cardinal in Santa Cruz on Jan. 22, 2021, 70-66. The Cardinal won the last meeting in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game on Mar. 7,75-55.
Stanford enters the game with a 16-3 overall record and a 7-0 mark in Pac-12 play. The Cardinal has won eight straight and is coming off a 75-69 victory over Arizona. Four Stanford players average in double-figure scoring, led by Cameron Brink, who leads the team in both scoring (13.7 average), rebounding (8.2) and blocked shots (41). Brink leads the Pac-12 with seven double-doubles and had a 25-point, 15-rebound effort in her last game against Arizona.
RECAP -- UCLA at Oregon State (Jan. 30)
Four Bruins scored in double-figures in a 72-58 loss at Oregon State on Jan. 30. Dominique Onu and Natalie Chou each posted a team-high 13 points in the contest. IImar'I Thomas' 10 second-half points helped bring UCLA within two points of the Beavers with 4:35 remaining in the fourth, but an 8-0 Oregon State run down the stretch increased the Beaver lead back to 10 with under a minute to play.
LOOKING BACK -- UCLA vs. Stanford in 2020-21
UCLA and Stanford played three times in 2020-21, with the Cardinal winning the first contest in Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 21 (61-49), and the Bruins taking the road matchup in Santa Cruz on Jan. 22 (70-66). The teams met again for the rubber match in the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, with Stanford claiming the title after a 75-55 victory. Bruin forward Michaela Onyenwere scored a game-high 30 points in the contest, while Kiana Williams (26 points) and Lexie Hull (24 points) combined for 50 of Stanford's 75 points.
OSBORNE NAMED TO LATE SEASON WOODEN AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior guard Charisma Osborne was selected to the Late Season Top 20 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's. Osborne is currently second in the Pac-12 in scoring at 17.9 points per game. She has scored in double figures in each of the 13 games she has played this season and has five 20-point games to her credit, including a 27-point effort at USC on Jan. 23 and a 26-point output against UConn on Dec. 11. Osborne also drained a career-high seven three-pointers against the Huskies. In her most recent game against Arizona, Osborne joined UCLA's 1,000-point club and now has 1,001 career points.
NOTES ON THE BRUINS
• A win would give UCLA its first home win over Stanford since 2018 (64-53)
• UCLA has two players ranked in the Top 3 in scoring in the Pac-12 (No. 2 Charisma Osborne - 17.9 and No. 3 IImar'I Thomas - 16.7). No other school has more than one player in the Top 10.
• The Bruins lead the Pac-12 in free throw percentage at 77.6 percent and fewest turnovers per game at 13.1.
• Osborne scored a season-high 27 points in UCLA's win at USC, her fourth game with at least 25 points this season.
• Osborne has scored in double figures in each of her last 16 games played dating back to last season.
• Thomas has scored in double figures in her last 11 games.
• Natalie Chou has started every game this season and 33 consecutive games dating back to last season.
• Dominique Onu grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and was one point away from her first double-double against Arizona (Jan. 26). She followed up that game with a career-best 13 points, along with seven rebounds, at Oregon State.
UCLA MILESTONE WATCH
• Charisma Osborne became the 38th player to join the 1,000 point club at UCLA after scoring 13 against Arizona (Jan. 26). She now has 1,001 career points.
• Osborne has knocked down 147 three-pointers across her career, just three away from 150.
• Osborne has dished out 176 assists across her career, just 24 away from 200.
• Natalie Chou has scored 963 points across her career, just 37 away from 1,000.
• Jaelynn Penn has scored 1,467 points across her career, just 33 away from 1,500.
• Jaelynn Penn has dished out 235 assists across her career, just 15 away from 250.
• Chantel Horvat has scored 479 points across her career, just 21 away from 500.
• Chantel Horvat has dished out 99 assists across her career, just one away from 100.
• IImar'I Thomas has dished out 280 assists across her career, just 20 away from 300.
TOP 10 MATCHUP
UCLA's game vs. No. 2 Stanford is its third Top 10 matchup of the season. The Bruins have played tight contests against No. 3 UConn (71-61 loss) and No. 8 Arizona (74-63 loss), staying within four points with 37 seconds left against UConn and within three with two minutes left against Arizona but could not get closer down the stretch. UCLA had five games against Top 10 opponents in 2020-21, going 2-3 with wins at No. 8 Oregon on Jan. 3 and vs. No. 5 Stanford on Jan. 22.
UCLA's 1-2 PUNCH -- Charisma Osborne and IImar'I Thomas
UCLA is the only team in the Pac-12 with a pair of players among the league's top 10 scorers, with junior guard Charisma Osborne currently second with 17.9 points per game and graduate transfer forward IImar'I Thomas third at 16.7 points per game. Osborne had a 27-point outing in the team's road victory over USC on Jan. 23, securing six rebounds and dishing out three assists in the win. Thomas has impressed in her first season with the Bruins after transferring from Cincinnati, compiling 14 double-digit scoring efforts, including a 32-point performance in UCLA's dominant victory over San Jose State (Dec. 5). Osborne has scored in double figures in every game she has played this season, and Thomas has reached double figures in each of UCLA's last 11 games and in 14 games total.
ELITE RECRUITING CLASS -- Class of 2022
The Bruins have signed ESPN's No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for the high school class of 2022. It's the second No. 1-ranked class for the Bruins, as the 2014 recruiting haul included Lajahna Dummer and Kelli Hayes, as well as future WNBA pros Jordin Canada and Monique Billings. UCLA is now the only Pac-12 school since 2010 to sign multiple No. 1 classes and one of just four schools in the country to accomplish the feat since 2010. Kiki Rice is the highest-ranked recruit in UCLA WBB history, and Gabriela Jaquez is the sister of UCLA MBB star Jaime Jaquez Jr. Both players were recently named McDonald's All-Americans.The current class features: SIGNEEES: #2-ranked Kiki Rice (5-11 point guard), #19-ranked Gabriela Jaquez (6-0 forward), #22-ranked Londynn Jones (5-5 point guard), #49-ranked Christeen Iwuala (6-3 forward), and German standout Lina Sontag.
PROLIFIC CAREER -- IImar'I Thomas at Cincinnati
Graduate forward IImar'I Thomas currently ranks third in the Pac-12 with 16.7 points per game and recently had a 20-point outing in the team's win over USC (Jan. 20). Thomas transferred to UCLA this past offseason following a sensational four-year career with Cincinnati. She ranked third all-time in scoring there with 1,925 points and is the only player in program history to record 1,900+ points and 800+ rebounds. She was the 2021 AAC Player of the Year after averaging 23.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. Thomas scored in double figures 89 times as a Bearcat and recorded 37 games with at least 20 points. She was a three-time First Team All-AAC selection and the 2018 AAC Freshman of the Year.
WELCOME (BACK) TO WESTWOOD -- Transfers and Returners
The Bruins notably have eight players who did not suit up for the program a season ago. Coach Close reloaded with four transfers to fill out the roster: Gina Conti (point guard, Wake Forest), Angela Dugalic (forward, Oregon), Jaelynn Penn (guard, Indiana), and IImar'I Thomas (forward, Cincinnati). UCLA fans can enjoy the returns of Brynn Masikewich, Kayla Owens, and Kiara Jefferson, none of whom were with the program last season for various reasons. Redshirt freshman Izzy Anstey is also with the team for the first time, as the Australia native was unable to travel to the U.S. last year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
WATCH LIST RECOGNITION
The Bruins have been represented on the following national award watch lists and preseason teams: • Charisma Osborne: Preseason All-Pac-12 team, Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award Top 20 Watch List, Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, Wade Watch, Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List, • Gina Conti: Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Top 20 Watch List, All-Pac-12 team honorable mention • Natalie Chou: Preseason All-Pac-12 team honorable mention
UP NEXT: UCLA vs. California (Feb. 6)
The Bruins host California on Sunday, Feb. 6 at Noon for their Black History Month Game. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free Black History Month t-shirt.