After a week off between games, the UCLA women’s basketball is back in action Sunday afternoon against the Southern University Jaguars. The Bruins are looking to improve to 6-0 on the season and show the rest of the country why voters bumped UCLA ahead of unbeaten Texas in the most recent coaches poll.
UCLA ended the Jaguars season a year ago
UCLA saw Southern University last year, with the two teams facing off at Pauley Pavilion in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with the Bruins getting a 84-46 victory. UCLA spread the love around in that matchup with six Bruins finishing with double-figures as Lauren Betts led the team with 14 points.
The Bruins came into that game hot after finally beating USC
The Bruins were firing on all cylinders heading into last year’s meeting, having just defeated USC in the Big Ten Tournament. UCLA should be feeling pretty good about themselves currently too, having notched two ranked wins last week and remaining unbeaten.
Southern University has faced some of the best teams in the country this season
Southern is 1-3 to start the year with three losses to ranked teams, falling against Iowa, Iowa State and Ole Miss. The Jaguars lone win came against Tougaloo in a blowout during Southern’s home opener.
UCLA can’t start focusing on Texas quite yet
All three of the Jaguars’ losses have been blowouts but it has given them experience against some of the best teams in the country and now Southern will have their toughest test yet against UCLA. This game could be a bit overlooked on the Bruins schedule, as they’re coming off of a week without games and will face No. 4 Texas on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
The Bruins looking to keep the good times rolling
Cori Close’s team should leave the floor with a victory on Sunday but it’s a matter of maintaining momentum and rhythm for the team which should be the focus. UCLA has played a beautiful brand of basketball to begin the season, sharing the ball and never having any one player try to win the game by themselves, along with elite defense and rebounding.
Sienna Betts and Timea Gardiner unlikely to make season debuts
It appears as if UCLA will continue to be without some of their frontcourt depth as both Timea Gardiner and Sienna Betts did not practice with the team on Friday. Both players have yet to make their season debut for the Bruins.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Southern returns to UCLA after getting bounced in NCAA Tournament
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
