Saturday, March 18
Los Angeles, CA
8:30 PM

UCLA

vs

Sacramento State

Kiki Rice
Photo by: Caren Nicdao

No. 4-Seed UCLA to Host No.13-Seed Sacramento State in First Round

March 17, 2023 | Women's Basketball

LOS ANGELES – UCLA Women's Basketball (25-9, 11-7 Pac-12) is set to open the first round of NCAA March Madness on Saturday, Mar. 18, against Sacramento State (25-7, 13-5 Big Sky) in Pauley Pavilion Presented by Wescom. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Ann Schatz and Meghan McKeown on the call; tip-off is tentatively scheduled for 8:30 p.m. PT, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of Oklahoma-Portland.
 
Game Information
 
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Tip-off Time: 8:30 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN2
TV Talent: Ann Schatz, Meghan McKeown
Radio: ucla.leanplayer.com
Radio Talent: Dave Marcus
 
NCAA Tournament + Matchup History: UCLA vs. Sacramento State
 
The Bruins are 5-0 all-time against Sacramento State, with the team's last win coming on Dec. 18, 2015 (W, at Sacramento State, 109-76). UCLA is 2-0 against the Hornets under Cori Close, and the Bruins are 11-6 in the six NCAA tournament appearances they've made with Close at the helm (6-0 in the first round).
 
Key Notes on The Bruins
 
• UCLA has made 435 free throws this season, shooting 77.5% on the year. UCLA is on pace for its best FT shooting season performance in team history (2021-22: .767 FT%).  The Bruins rank 1st in offensive rebounds per game in the Pac-12 (14.9 ORPG, 17th - NCAA). UCLA is 3rd in the Pac-12 in total rebounding (40.3 RPG) and in rebounding margin (+6.5 RPG), 4th in 3PM per game (6.8 3PM), steals per game (8.4 SPG) and blocks per game (4.2 BPG).
• UCLA is one of four teams in Division I women's basketball with a scoring margin of -7.0 or less in its losses (min. 5 losses): Houston (15 L, -4.9), UCLA (9 L, -5.9), Colorado State (11 L, -6.5), Fordham (12 L, -6.6).
Charisma Osborne has scored 510 points (4th - Pac-12) in 33 games, averaging 15.5 ppg (7th - Pac-12). She is 5th in the Pac-12 in field goals made (179 FGM) on the second-most field goal attempts (469 FGA) in the Pac-12. Osborne ranks 1st the Pac-12 in minutes played (1,089 MIN), 7th in FT% (81.6%), and 6th in FTM (102).
Kiki Rice has started 33 of her 34 games during the freshman's first collegiate season, averaging 28.1 minutes per game (957 MIN, 1st among Pac-12 freshmen). The first-year floor general ranks second on the team in assists (106 AST), which is the second most among freshmen in the Pac-12 (T-10th overall).
• Redshirt-sophomore Emily Bessoir is a key contributor in the frontcourt for the Bruins as a versatile stretch big, appearing in all 34 games. Bessoir led the team in scoring on eight occasions (16 PTS vs. UC Riverside - Nov. 10; 16 PTS at USC - Dec. 15; 12 PTS vs. CSU Bakersfield - Dec. 17; 13 PTS at Wash. St. - Jan. 22; 17 PTS at Utah - Jan. 29; career-high 20 PTS vs. Oregon - Feb. 12; 17 PTS vs. Arizona State - March 1; 18 PTS vs. Arizona - March 2). The forward ranks third on the team in points (9.4 PPG) and first in rebounds (5.8 RPG) in 25.8 MPG. She had 60 PTS, 33 REB in the Tournament and recorded her first-career double-double against Arizona in the quarterfinals (18 PTS, 13 REB).
 

Players Mentioned

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