NCAAW: Osborne/Rice vs. Rogers/Paopao in UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Geese

The No. 10 UCLA Bruins (12-1, 1-0 Pac-12) are nonetheless driving on the power of their Battle 4 Atlantis championship run from earlier than Thanksgiving. Within the span of three days, they defeated South Dakota State (at the moment No. 58 within the NET), Tennessee (No. 19 within the NET) and Marquette (RV, 4 factors) for 3 of their 4 finest wins of the season. The opposite got here in nail-biter towards crosstown rival USC (No. 43 within the NET) extra just lately (Dec. 15).

These are 4 high quality wins, however 75 % of them got here some time in the past and none had been over a group that’s at the moment ranked. Maybe a extra telling side of UCLA’s resume is its one loss; it got here towards No. 1 South Carolina by simply 9 factors on Nov. 29. The nationwide consensus appears to be that the Bruins, based mostly on that outcome, may be capable to cling with anyone.

A few of UCLA’s numbers inform a unique story although. Can it actually duplicate protecting it shut towards one of the best groups within the nation when it struggles in sure classes, notably 3-point capturing? Its effectivity from lengthy vary is a poor 26.8 % (283rd within the nation).

The Bruins’ subsequent opponent, the Oregon Ducks, could also be seven spots decrease within the rankings at No. 17, however they’ve some glorious numbers and are battle-tested having confronted three groups which are at the moment ranked, in comparison with UCLA’s one. The Geese are 1-2 in these contests.

UCLA and Oregon (10-2, 1-0 Pac-12) meet Friday night time in Eugene at 9 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Community).

The Geese are second within the nation in each opponent free throw price (10.1 %) and help/turnover ratio (1.68). So they’re among the many better of one of the best in relation to not sending groups to the road and in relation to working clean offense. Individually, Te-Hina Paopao is twelfth within the nation with an help/turnover ratio of two.82.

UCLA might have a concerningly-low 3-point share, nevertheless it has a celebrity who is aware of tips on how to rating when it counts and Paopao and firm should cope with her. That might be Charisma Osborne. She is capturing simply 29.9 % from three, however averages a team-high 18.1 factors per recreation. She additionally averages a team-high 6.5 rebounds regardless of being the second-shortest participant on the roster as a 5-foot-9 guard.

The backcourt of Osborne and freshman Kiki Rice will likely be going up towards the backcourt of Paopao and Endyia Rogers, the final of whom is tied for ninth within the nation with a 3-point share of fifty (26 makes). The conflict of those guard tandems ought to make for an epic Pac-12 showdown. Rice, the No. 2 ESPN Hoop Gurlz recruit, is capturing simply 3-of-21 from distance, however has phenomenal distributing abilities and is barely going to get higher as a shooter.

The frontcourt stars are freshman Grace VanSlooten and Phillipina Kyei for Oregon and Emily Bessoir for UCLA. VanSlooten leads the Geese with 16.3 factors per recreation to associate with her 6.8 boards. In the meantime, Kyei (8.6 factors and 11.3 rebounds per recreation) creates a mismatch as she is 6-foot-8 and the Bruins’ three tallest gamers, together with Bessoir, are all 6-foot-4.

Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sport data

No. 10 UCLA Bruins (12-1, 1-0 Pac-12) vs. No. 17 Oregon Geese (10-2, 1-0 Pac-12)

When: Friday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m. ET

The place: Matthew Knight Area in Eugene, OR

Find out how to watch/pay attention: Pac-12 Community/Listen (UCLA) or Oregon Sports Network or The Varsity Network or GoDucks Audio

Key to the matchup: UCLA’s protection. Oregon has the benefit in most classes. It has slight edges in rebound and turnover margin and is approach forward in discipline objective share and 3-point share. UCLA is the higher defensive group; it has to have an excellent night time on that aspect of the ball to make up for its offensive disadvantages. The Bruins enable simply 57.1 factors per recreation (fortieth within the nation) and simply 35.4 % capturing from the sphere (twenty seventh within the nation).