With a perfect season thus far, the Bruins are set for a matchup against their potential kryptonite: the NCAA champions.
No. 5 UCLA (4-0) women’s basketball will face off against No. 1 South Carolina (4-0) in only the sixth meeting between the two programs Sunday. With the Gamecocks’ winning record against the Bruins and their most recent March Madness tournament championship, the pressure is on.
“We know that pressure is going to rise, but we know that pressure is a privilege,” said coach Cori Close. “You have to lean into the fire ahead of time if you’re going to be ready for it in the game, so that’s the first part. We know what’s coming, and we need them to be prepared.”
In their most recent matchup with the Gamecocks in 2022, it was former forward Charisma Osborne who carried the Bruins with a 24-point, six-rebound performance, while then-freshman guard Kiki Rice added 16 points.
With junior guards Rice and Gabriela Jaquez recently limited with injuries, the Bruins have been relying on their bench to maintain composure.
“I think with this team, especially with the amount of shooters we have like (junior forward) Timea Gardiner now, it’s having her on the wing and knowing that I can always kick out to somebody, and they’re going to be able to shoot,” said junior center Lauren Betts. “It just relieves all my pressure and makes my job 10 times easier.”
The return of Rice couldn’t come at a better time for the Bruins as they gear up to face the former champions. While her minutes were limited in Sunday’s blowout win over Arkansas, Rice’s presence on the court was a welcome sight for UCLA fans and teammates alike.
Close confirmed that Rice, while still recovering from a minor shoulder injury, is on track to return to full strength for the upcoming game.
Her return adds another layer to UCLA’s offense, particularly in the backcourt, where freshman forward Elina Aarnisalo has stepped up in Rice’s absence. The brief moments they shared on the court Sunday hinted at a dynamic two-guard rotation.
“The silver linings of this is she (Aarnisalo) is going to be forced into positions and voices and experiences that maybe she wouldn’t have been forced to otherwise,” Close said. “The reality is she has grown leaps and bounds, 11 assists and one turnover against an SEC team against Arkansas. … We’re going to look back on those first four games, … but we’re going to look back in March and go, ‘Thank goodness we had that time.’”
UCLA heads into its matchup against South Carolina after a dominant win over Arkansas last Sunday. Three players recorded double-doubles in the blowout victory, including junior forward Janiah Barker, a recent transfer from Texas A&M who gained her second consecutive double-double off the bench.
The Bruins also saw Gardiner finding the net, recording seven 3-pointers in a single matchup. After finishing with 38 more rebounds than the Razorbacks, including 29 offensive rebounds that translated into 28 second-chance points, the Bruins are focusing on cutting the Gamecocks’ second and third chances.
“To box (them) out as much as possible and giving them less second chances, I think that’s really important for us,” Betts said. “Working on that in practice, I think, is going to prepare us.”
In its victory over Clemson, South Carolina leaned heavily on its interior presence, outscoring the Tigers 44-10 in the paint. The team also demonstrated its depth with 11 of 12 players contributing at least three points, including guard Tessa Johnson’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave it a comfortable halftime lead.
South Carolina enters its matchup against UCLA riding the momentum of a program-record 43 consecutive wins, showcasing its dominance on both ends of the floor.
The Bruins finish their week of preparation for Sunday afternoon’s tipoff in Pauley Pavilion – their fifth nonconference game.
Comments are closed.