The Terps look to end their losing streak.
After consecutive losses to No. 7 Texas and No. 12 Ohio State, No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball faces its toughest test of the season on Sunday in College Park.
No. 1 UCLA comes to Xfinity Center to face a Maryland team that is enduring its most arduous stretch of the season.
Sunday’s game will begin at 2 p.m. and broadcast on NBC.
UCLA Bruins, (19-0, 6-0 Big Ten)
In her 13th season in charge, head coach Cori Close has put UCLA at the apex of women’s college basketball. The Bruins have rattled off 19 straight wins to open the season and are the only undefeated team in the power five.
Their signature victory was their win over then-No. 1 South Carolina in Los Angeles. They also hold victories over No. 24 Michigan and No. 25 Baylor.
Players to watch
Lauren Betts, junior center, 6-foot-7, No. 51 — Betts has wreaked havoc on opponents so far this season, leading the team with 20.3 points per game in her second season with the Bruins after transferring from Stanford. The Spanish-born center also leads UCLA with 10.1 rebounds and dishes out 2.4 assists per game. Betts is in the running for National Player of the Year.
Kiki Rice, junior guard, 5-foot-11, No. 1 — Rice is the primary point guard for UCLA in her third season with the Bruins out of Bethesda, Maryland. She averages 12.8 points per game this season to go along with a team-leading 4.4 assists per game. She has been a huge force for the Bruins, was an All Pac-12 selection last season and is one of the best guards in the Big Ten this season.
Gabriela Jaquez, junior guard, 6-foot-0, No. 11 — Jaquez is the sister of Miami Heat guard and UCLA men’s basketball alum Jaime Jaquez Jr., but she has made a name for herself at UCLA. In her third season with the Bruins, she is averaging 10.3 points per game, along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. She has been key in both starting and bench roles to help the Bruins to an undefeated start to the season.
Strength
Defense. UCLA is a team with a multitude of strengths, but there is none more impressive than its defensive intensity and skill. The Bruins are allowing just 54.4 points per game, second in the conference to USC by 0.2 points and 13th in the country overall. Betts is a massive factor around the rim altering shots, as the Bruins block more than five shots a game.
Weakness
Lack of road experience. The Bruins have yet to go on the road in a hostile environment and get a statement win. Maryland has marked this contest as its “blackout” game, and with students back on campus, Xfinity Center should be rocking for the primetime matchup. UCLA could struggle on the road in these conditions.
Three things to watch
1. Sellers’ availability. Maryland’s chances in this game are directly tied to whether Sellers is available. The team initially marked her day-to-day with a sprained right knee, but likely will not designate her as available or unavailable until the day of the matchup. Without Sellers and Bri McDaniel, who is done for the season, beating the No. 1 team in the country is a tall task for the Terps.
2. Battle on the glass. Sunday afternoon’s matchup will be between the two best rebounding teams in the Big Ten. Winning on the boards has been key to many of Maryland’s victories this season, and it will take a serious effort to keep Betts off the glass. Frese may call on Amari DeBerry’s size, particularly if she’s shorthanded, although DeBerry has struggled in limited minutes this year.
3. Big stage. The game will be broadcast on NBC’s main channel, making it Maryland’s only national televised matchup of the regular season. The game may be the mainstream audience’s only exposure to the Terps until the postseason, providing them a chance to make a lasting impression. Whether Maryland rises to the occasion or not will be worth monitoring.