One of coach Cori Close’s mantras has prevailed throughout the season: toughness.
“You cannot give toughness,” Close said Wednesday. “You cannot hope it into place. You have to earn toughness. And you earn toughness by conquering hard things.”
And with 20 consecutive wins to begin the season, there is little that the Bruins have yet to conquer.
Following a week-long Northeast trip, No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball (20-0, 8-0 Big Ten) will return to Westwood to face Minnesota (18-4, 6-4) and No. 8 Ohio State (19-1, 8-1) on Sunday and Wednesday, respectively, in the Bruins’ first matches at Pauley Pavilion since Jan. 1.
“We are the only undefeated team left in men’s and women’s college basketball,” said junior guard Kiki Rice. “That’s pretty cool.”
The Bruins have spent 10 consecutive weeks at the summit of the AP Top 25 rankings, a Big Ten women’s basketball record. With Selection Sunday – the unofficial start to March Madness – rapidly approaching, the squad recognizes the importance of closing the season on a winning note.
“It’s getting serious,” said junior center Lauren Betts, the National Player of the Week recipient. “We’re getting through conference play, it’s around that time. We’re making sure that we’re locked in.”
The Gophers have exhibited a well-distributed offensive attack, with five of their players averaging double-digit scoring and three more averaging at least eight points.
Minnesota’s center, 6-foot-5 Sophie Hart, has started every game this season and will likely have the 6-foot-7 Betts as her primary defensive assignment. Although not significant, UCLA will have the height advantage over Minnesota in several positions.
“We’ve been able to negate anybody that’s even close to us from a size perspective,” Close said. “I think more than anything, we need to hunt the paint and use all of our size, not just Lauren Betts. We have a mismatch with Janiah Barker and Angela Dugalić almost every time.”
Graduate student forward Angela Dugalić is averaging 8.4 points and six rebounds, having started in all but one of her appearances. Dugalić’s 17 starts mark the second-highest total for UCLA this season, trailing only Betts.
“She has put in the work,” Close said. “Her basketball IQ, understanding her role and how she’s best, her emotional stability and her mentality game-by-game are why she’s been in our starting lineup the most.”
The Buckeyes dropped their first game of the season in an away match against the Lady Lions.
UCLA and Ohio State are each top five in the Big Ten by points per game, with the Buckeyes led in scoring by forward Cotie McMahon. McMahon’s 5.7 free-throw attempts per game is also the highest total for Ohio State.
Above all else, Close said the Bruins need to continue their focus on ball control and defensive rebounding. UCLA holds a comfortable lead over the rest of the Big Ten in rebounding, collecting 45.4 boards per game compared to second-place USC’s 43.0.
“That’s a little deceiving,” Close said. “Lauren covers a multitude of sins, so we need everybody to step up in the way that we box out and the way that we take care of the ball.”
UCLA tips off against Minnesota at noon Sunday and against Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. And despite appearing perfect on paper, Close said the Bruins have plenty of work ahead of their next slate of games.
“I don’t care about being No. 1 in the country by rankings,” Close said. “I care about having number one in the country reps. I care about having the number one in the country growth mindset. I care about having number one in the country competitive spirit.”
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