Sunday, February 16
Los Angeles, Calif.
6 p.m.
UCLA
vs
No. 22 Michigan State
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Women’s Basketball Hosts No. 22 Michigan State Sunday
February 15, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA Women's Basketball (23-1, 11-1 B1G) welcomes No. 22-ranked Michigan State (19-5, 9-4 B1G) on Sunday inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
The conference contest will be UCLA's third ranked matchup in four games; Sunday's game will be broadcast to the Big Ten Network with tip slated for 6 p.m. PT.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Tip-off Time: 6 p.m. PT
TV: Big Ten Network
TV Talent: Ann Schatz, Elise Woodward
Radio: UCLA Digital Radio
Radio Talent: Dave Marcus
TICKET INFORMATION
Single game tickets for the 2024-25 women's basketball campaign are still available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991, visit uclabruins.com/tickets, or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information. Single-game tickets for UCLA's remaining home games can be purchased online (link here).
For more information about tickets, call UCLA Athletic Sales & Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu.
MATCHUP HISTORY: vs. Michigan State Spartans
• Sunday's game will be just the fourth meeting in program history, the last coming in Pauley on Dec. 19, 2003 (L, 43-47).
• The Bruins are 1-2 all-time against the Spartans and are looking to claim victory over MSU for the first time since 1992.
LAST TIME OUT: L, 71-60 at No. 6 USC (Thursday, Feb. 13)
• No. 1 UCLA suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of rival USC at Galen Center on Thursday.
• Junior Lauren Betts collected her 13th double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. She shot 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in the effort.
• Juniors Kiki Rice (15 PTS, 6 AST, 2 STL) and Janiah Baker (10 PTS, 5 REB) joined Betts in double figures.
• The Bruin out-rebounded the Trojans 45-35 in the rivalry match; UCLA only scored three second-chance points after corralling 13 offensive rebounds. UCLA (.351 FG%) outshot the Trojans (.333 FG%) but allowed an 8-of-18 shooting night from 3.
WHAT'S BRUIN
• UCLA claims three of the top 25 rebounding spots in the new conference: L. Betts (3rd - 9.9 RPG), J. Barker (22nd - 6.5 RPG), A. Dugalić (23rd - 6.4). The team ranks 4th in the NCAA in rebounds per game (45.0 RPG) and 1st in rebounding margin (+15.1) while leading the conference in all rebounding statistical categories.
• The Bruins have four players with 100+ rebounds on the season, all of whom are averaging 5+ RPG: Betts (217 REB), Barker (156 REB), Dugalić (141 REB) and Jaquez (5.1 RPG, 117 REB).
• UCLA was the last undefeated D1 squad left prior to Thursday's loss at USC.
• The Bruins are among the top five in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2nd - 1.32), bench points (5th - 23.2 PPG), blocks (3rd - 5.4 BPG), scoring offense (4th - 79.8 PPG) and scoring margin (2nd - +24.4).
• The Bruins have led wire-to-wire in 13 of the 23 wins and have claimed five ranked victories this season. UCLA hadn't trailed by more than 5 points at the end of a quarter (2 vs. Penn State, 5 vs. Louisville to start the year) before Thursday.
• UCLA had 22-consecutive wins by a double-digit margin, setting the longest streak in program history. The previous record was 15 in the 1977-78 season. UCLA's previous-best win streak also came in the 1977-78 campaign (21 games).
I'LL HAVE THE NO. 1, PLEASE
• UCLA claimed the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll after defeating then-No. 1 South Carolina on Nov. 24. The Bruins have sat atop the AP poll for 12 weeks, setting the record for the longest streak at No. 1 for a Big Ten WBB program in conference history after nine weeks at the top spot.
• As a team, the Bruins rank No. 1 in the Big Ten in eight statistical categories: assists per game (20.8 APG), field goal percentage (.486 FG%), field goal percentage defense (.332 DFG%), rebound margin (+15.1), defensive rebounds (30.6 DRPG), offensive rebounds (14.5 ORPG), rebounds per game (45.0 RPG), and scoring defense (55.3 OPPG). UCLA has only been outrebounded once this season season (Dec. 8 at Washington, 32-30).
• The Bruins rank third in the nation in defensive field goal percentage - holding opponents to .332 FG% on the year - and first in rebounding margin. All but one win have been by 10+ points this year (W, vs. No. 17 Louisville: 66-59).
• Betts leads the Big Ten in blocks (61, 2.8 BPG), and Rice has the second-best A/TO ratio in the league (2.45 A/TO).
CENTER COURT
• Lauren Betts is currently 2nd in the Big Ten in scoring (19.5 PPG); rival JuJu Watkins from USC sits atop the leaderboard with 24.5 PPG. The center is shooting .620 from the field (8th - NCAA, 2nd - B1G).
• The Bruin big is also a centerpiece to the UCLA defense and has 32 blocks over the last seven games; Betts set the UCLA single-game blocks record with 9 against No. 25 Baylor on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Coretta Scott King Classic. She has 61 blocks through 22 appearances; Betts finished 2023-24 with 59 blocks in 29 games, which ranked third all-time for a Bruin in one season. Monique Billings holds the program record with 66 blocks in 2016-17 (34 GP).
• Betts has 13 double-doubles on the season; five of her last eight have been with 20+ points. The center has scored 20+ points in five of UCLA's last nine wins.
• The center averages 29.6 minutes per game, which ranks 30th in the Big Ten. She ranks fifth in total points (430), fourth in rebounds (217), first in blocks (61) and third in field goals made (183) in the conference.
• Betts surpassed 1,000 career points with her scoring outburst at No. 8 Maryland on Jan. 26. The center also had her highest scoring output for a half, racking up 24 points in the first 20 minutes against the Terps.
• The center showed offensive versatility by setting a new career-high in assists (11) vs. Minnesota, the most by a player 6-foot-7 or taller since 2002-03, according to Stathead's game log archive (previous: 9, Brittney Griner - 3/9/2013).
• Betts captured her 25th-career double-double against No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 5 (19 PTS, 14 REB).
PLUG IN THE RICE COOKER
• Junior Kiki Rice has improved her shooting by nearly 10 percentage points since the end of last season (2023-24: .449 FG%, current: .545 FG%). Rice is also shooting at an improved clip from long distance, knocking down 17-of-46 attempts so far (.370 3FG%). The PG is UCLA's second-leading scorer (12.8 PPG), and would rank 3rd in Big Ten in FG% (min. 5 FGM/G, Rice: 4.7 FGM/G). Rice has a pair of double-doubles this year (16 PTS, 10 AST vs. No. 24 Michigan; 10 PTS, 10 AST at Rutgers.)
• Rice had 10 assists and only one turnover against Rutgers on Jan. 23. Her 2.45 A/TO ratio has her second in the new league and ranks 25th in the NCAA. She's led the Bruins in assists in eight of her 20 appearances this season.
• The PG has improved her three-point shooting by a significant margin; she has surpassed her freshman totals from long distance and jumped 16 percentage points since her Bruin debut (current: .370 3FG%; 2022-23: .217 3FG%).
ALL GAS GABS
• Junior Gabriela Jaquez does not make mistakes. She has 9 turnovers over the last 12 games, and only 22 turnovers in 24 games played. Jaquez has had multiple turnovers in just five games this season.
• Jaquez has also improved her efficiency on the offensive end; the junior is shooting .555 from the field (96-173 FG) and .321 from distance (17-53 3FG).
• The junior guard had a strong fourth quarter (11 PTS, 5-6 FG) to help close out the win against No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 5.
THREE-POINT THREATS
• Juniors Londynn Jones and Timea Gardiner and grad student Angela Dugalić have helped the Bruins spread the floor when opposing teams send double and triple teams at Betts in the post.
• Jones, who set the UCLA single-season 3-point makes record in 2023-24 (87 3FGM), leads the Bruins with 49 makes from long range through 24 games. The junior has played 95-consecutive games in her career; she hasn't missed a contest yet. Jones is also shooting 46.8 percent from distance during Big Ten play (29-62 3FG in 12 GP).
• Gardiner started the year with a scorching performance in Paris, shooting 5-of-7 against then-No. 17 Louisville. She recorded a 7-for-12 shooting performance against Arkansas to set a new career-high in points (23) and 3FGM (7). The junior transfer is shooting .362 from 3-point land (38-105 3FG), trailing Jones (.371) and Rice (.370).
• Dugalić is shooting .346 from distance (18-52 3FG), providing a long-range threat as a stretch four.
THEY'RE FREE!
• Gabriela Jaquez leads the Bruins in free throw percentage (.875 FT%), but she's joined by four additional Bruins shooting 80 percent or better at the charity stripe.
• Kiki Rice has shot 83.0 percent from the free throw line (39-47) in conference play, .821 on the year.
• Dugalić (.870 FT%), Gardiner (.842) and Elina Aarnisalo (.824, 14-17) are all in the eighties at the line.
The conference contest will be UCLA's third ranked matchup in four games; Sunday's game will be broadcast to the Big Ten Network with tip slated for 6 p.m. PT.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Tip-off Time: 6 p.m. PT
TV: Big Ten Network
TV Talent: Ann Schatz, Elise Woodward
Radio: UCLA Digital Radio
Radio Talent: Dave Marcus
TICKET INFORMATION
Single game tickets for the 2024-25 women's basketball campaign are still available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991, visit uclabruins.com/tickets, or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information. Single-game tickets for UCLA's remaining home games can be purchased online (link here).
For more information about tickets, call UCLA Athletic Sales & Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu.
MATCHUP HISTORY: vs. Michigan State Spartans
• Sunday's game will be just the fourth meeting in program history, the last coming in Pauley on Dec. 19, 2003 (L, 43-47).
• The Bruins are 1-2 all-time against the Spartans and are looking to claim victory over MSU for the first time since 1992.
LAST TIME OUT: L, 71-60 at No. 6 USC (Thursday, Feb. 13)
• No. 1 UCLA suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of rival USC at Galen Center on Thursday.
• Junior Lauren Betts collected her 13th double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. She shot 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in the effort.
• Juniors Kiki Rice (15 PTS, 6 AST, 2 STL) and Janiah Baker (10 PTS, 5 REB) joined Betts in double figures.
• The Bruin out-rebounded the Trojans 45-35 in the rivalry match; UCLA only scored three second-chance points after corralling 13 offensive rebounds. UCLA (.351 FG%) outshot the Trojans (.333 FG%) but allowed an 8-of-18 shooting night from 3.
WHAT'S BRUIN
• UCLA claims three of the top 25 rebounding spots in the new conference: L. Betts (3rd - 9.9 RPG), J. Barker (22nd - 6.5 RPG), A. Dugalić (23rd - 6.4). The team ranks 4th in the NCAA in rebounds per game (45.0 RPG) and 1st in rebounding margin (+15.1) while leading the conference in all rebounding statistical categories.
• The Bruins have four players with 100+ rebounds on the season, all of whom are averaging 5+ RPG: Betts (217 REB), Barker (156 REB), Dugalić (141 REB) and Jaquez (5.1 RPG, 117 REB).
• UCLA was the last undefeated D1 squad left prior to Thursday's loss at USC.
• The Bruins are among the top five in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (2nd - 1.32), bench points (5th - 23.2 PPG), blocks (3rd - 5.4 BPG), scoring offense (4th - 79.8 PPG) and scoring margin (2nd - +24.4).
• The Bruins have led wire-to-wire in 13 of the 23 wins and have claimed five ranked victories this season. UCLA hadn't trailed by more than 5 points at the end of a quarter (2 vs. Penn State, 5 vs. Louisville to start the year) before Thursday.
• UCLA had 22-consecutive wins by a double-digit margin, setting the longest streak in program history. The previous record was 15 in the 1977-78 season. UCLA's previous-best win streak also came in the 1977-78 campaign (21 games).
I'LL HAVE THE NO. 1, PLEASE
• UCLA claimed the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll after defeating then-No. 1 South Carolina on Nov. 24. The Bruins have sat atop the AP poll for 12 weeks, setting the record for the longest streak at No. 1 for a Big Ten WBB program in conference history after nine weeks at the top spot.
• As a team, the Bruins rank No. 1 in the Big Ten in eight statistical categories: assists per game (20.8 APG), field goal percentage (.486 FG%), field goal percentage defense (.332 DFG%), rebound margin (+15.1), defensive rebounds (30.6 DRPG), offensive rebounds (14.5 ORPG), rebounds per game (45.0 RPG), and scoring defense (55.3 OPPG). UCLA has only been outrebounded once this season season (Dec. 8 at Washington, 32-30).
• The Bruins rank third in the nation in defensive field goal percentage - holding opponents to .332 FG% on the year - and first in rebounding margin. All but one win have been by 10+ points this year (W, vs. No. 17 Louisville: 66-59).
• Betts leads the Big Ten in blocks (61, 2.8 BPG), and Rice has the second-best A/TO ratio in the league (2.45 A/TO).
CENTER COURT
• Lauren Betts is currently 2nd in the Big Ten in scoring (19.5 PPG); rival JuJu Watkins from USC sits atop the leaderboard with 24.5 PPG. The center is shooting .620 from the field (8th - NCAA, 2nd - B1G).
• The Bruin big is also a centerpiece to the UCLA defense and has 32 blocks over the last seven games; Betts set the UCLA single-game blocks record with 9 against No. 25 Baylor on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Coretta Scott King Classic. She has 61 blocks through 22 appearances; Betts finished 2023-24 with 59 blocks in 29 games, which ranked third all-time for a Bruin in one season. Monique Billings holds the program record with 66 blocks in 2016-17 (34 GP).
• Betts has 13 double-doubles on the season; five of her last eight have been with 20+ points. The center has scored 20+ points in five of UCLA's last nine wins.
• The center averages 29.6 minutes per game, which ranks 30th in the Big Ten. She ranks fifth in total points (430), fourth in rebounds (217), first in blocks (61) and third in field goals made (183) in the conference.
• Betts surpassed 1,000 career points with her scoring outburst at No. 8 Maryland on Jan. 26. The center also had her highest scoring output for a half, racking up 24 points in the first 20 minutes against the Terps.
• The center showed offensive versatility by setting a new career-high in assists (11) vs. Minnesota, the most by a player 6-foot-7 or taller since 2002-03, according to Stathead's game log archive (previous: 9, Brittney Griner - 3/9/2013).
• Betts captured her 25th-career double-double against No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 5 (19 PTS, 14 REB).
PLUG IN THE RICE COOKER
• Junior Kiki Rice has improved her shooting by nearly 10 percentage points since the end of last season (2023-24: .449 FG%, current: .545 FG%). Rice is also shooting at an improved clip from long distance, knocking down 17-of-46 attempts so far (.370 3FG%). The PG is UCLA's second-leading scorer (12.8 PPG), and would rank 3rd in Big Ten in FG% (min. 5 FGM/G, Rice: 4.7 FGM/G). Rice has a pair of double-doubles this year (16 PTS, 10 AST vs. No. 24 Michigan; 10 PTS, 10 AST at Rutgers.)
• Rice had 10 assists and only one turnover against Rutgers on Jan. 23. Her 2.45 A/TO ratio has her second in the new league and ranks 25th in the NCAA. She's led the Bruins in assists in eight of her 20 appearances this season.
• The PG has improved her three-point shooting by a significant margin; she has surpassed her freshman totals from long distance and jumped 16 percentage points since her Bruin debut (current: .370 3FG%; 2022-23: .217 3FG%).
ALL GAS GABS
• Junior Gabriela Jaquez does not make mistakes. She has 9 turnovers over the last 12 games, and only 22 turnovers in 24 games played. Jaquez has had multiple turnovers in just five games this season.
• Jaquez has also improved her efficiency on the offensive end; the junior is shooting .555 from the field (96-173 FG) and .321 from distance (17-53 3FG).
• The junior guard had a strong fourth quarter (11 PTS, 5-6 FG) to help close out the win against No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 5.
THREE-POINT THREATS
• Juniors Londynn Jones and Timea Gardiner and grad student Angela Dugalić have helped the Bruins spread the floor when opposing teams send double and triple teams at Betts in the post.
• Jones, who set the UCLA single-season 3-point makes record in 2023-24 (87 3FGM), leads the Bruins with 49 makes from long range through 24 games. The junior has played 95-consecutive games in her career; she hasn't missed a contest yet. Jones is also shooting 46.8 percent from distance during Big Ten play (29-62 3FG in 12 GP).
• Gardiner started the year with a scorching performance in Paris, shooting 5-of-7 against then-No. 17 Louisville. She recorded a 7-for-12 shooting performance against Arkansas to set a new career-high in points (23) and 3FGM (7). The junior transfer is shooting .362 from 3-point land (38-105 3FG), trailing Jones (.371) and Rice (.370).
• Dugalić is shooting .346 from distance (18-52 3FG), providing a long-range threat as a stretch four.
THEY'RE FREE!
• Gabriela Jaquez leads the Bruins in free throw percentage (.875 FT%), but she's joined by four additional Bruins shooting 80 percent or better at the charity stripe.
• Kiki Rice has shot 83.0 percent from the free throw line (39-47) in conference play, .821 on the year.
• Dugalić (.870 FT%), Gardiner (.842) and Elina Aarnisalo (.824, 14-17) are all in the eighties at the line.
Players Mentioned
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