Jan. 10, 2013

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UCLA Game Notes | Washington State Game Notes

THE LAST MEETING

UCLA	65
Washington State	76

March 1, 2012
Pullman, Wash.

Bruins Lose, But Remain in Tie for Fourth UCLA (14-14, 9-8) dropped a 76-65 decision at Washington State on Thursday night. However, the Bruins remained in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings despite the setback,

Recap | Box Score

Friday, Jan. 11
7:06 p.m. PT
Washington State (5-8, 1-1) at No. 14/15 UCLA (11-2, 2-0)

Online Coverage:
Gametracker | Audio
Audio Talent: Dave Marcus (play-by-play) and Mike Sondheimer (analyst)

TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Anne Marie Anderson (play-by-play) and Tammy Blackburn (analyst)

STORY LINES
• No. 14/15 UCLA (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12) returns home this week to host the Washington State Cougars (5-8, 1-1 Pac-12) in a Pac-12 Network game on Friday, Jan. 11. Tip-off is slated for 7:06 p.m. against the Cougars. The Bruins will host the Washington Huskies (10-3, 2-0 Pac-12) on Jan. 13 at 2:05 p.m.

• With its road sweep of the Oregon Schools, the UCLA Bruins moved up two spots to No. 14 in the AP Top 25 Poll and two spots to No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Bruins slid four spots to No. 14 in the NCAA Women's Basketball RPI (NCAA.com). The Bruins have been ranked at least one week in both polls in each of the past four seasons.

• This is the 54th meeting between UCLA and Washington State with the Bruins leading the series 46-7. While UCLA has won 23 of the last 24 meetings, it was Washington State that won the last meeting, a 76-65 vinctory in Pullman, Wash., on March 1, 2012. The Bruins defeated the Cougars at home earlier in the year, posting a 73-52 victory in the Wooden Center on Feb. 4. In that meeting, Markel Walker recorded UCLA's first triple-double in eight years with 14 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. Senior Rebekah Gardner led the team in scoring with 21 points. In the loss at WSU, the Cougars scored the first 10 points and never trailed in the contest, forcing 27 Bruin turnovers and netting 10 three-point baskets. Walker led UCLA with 18 points and Rosetta Adzasu led four Cougars in double figures with 14 points.

UCLA IN STATISTICAL RANKINGS
The UCLA Bruins are 4th in the Pac-12 and 27th in the country in rebounding margin (+9.0) and 4th in Pac-12 and 23rd in NCAA in winning percentage (.846). The Bruins lead the Pac-12 and rank 30th in the nation in assists (16.2). UCLA also leads the Pac-12 in steals (11.9) and rebounds per game (46.7) and offensive rebounds per game (18.9).

CLOSE CALLS ... BRUINS IN OVERTIME
The UCLA Bruins improved to 3-0 under Head Coach Cori Close in overtime games in her two seasons with last week's 53-52 win in overtime at St. John's (Dec. 16). Last season, the Bruins posted back-to-back overtime wins at Colorado (62-54 on Jan. 29, 2012) and at home versus Washington (79-73 on Feb. 2, 2012).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Alyssia Brewer has six double-doubles in her first 12 games, which ranks tied for 2nd in the Pac-12 and tied for 35th in the country. She has had double-doubles in five of her last eight games. Markel Walker has four double-doubles this season, which ranks sixth in the Pac-12. Additionally, the two Bruins have had double-doubles in the same game three times this season. Walker had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the 86-66 win over Loyola Marymount (Dec. 2) while Brewer had 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Lions. Walker later had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the 76-62 win over Saint Mary's (Dec. 15) as Brewer chipped in 12 points and 10 boards against the Gaels. In the loss to Cal State Northridge (Dec. 20), Brewer had 14 points and 12 rebounds with Walker adding 12 points and 12 boards.

MISSING IN ACTION
Only four of the 13 Bruins have played in all 13 games of the 2012-13 season and nobody has started in all of those contests, forcing Head Coach Cori Close to go with seven different starting lineups in the first 13 games. Thea Lemberger has started all 11 games she has played, but missed the Notre Dame (Nov. 23) and Princeton (Nov. 25) games due to a knee sprain. Lauren Holiday (10 games) and Corinne Costa (seven games) have both missed contests with head injuries. Kacy Swain missed both of the games in New York with a back injury. Nirra Fields missed the upset win at Oklahoma (Nov. 14) due to personal reasons. Jasmine Dixon missed two games (Princeton on Nov. 25 and Loyola Marymount on Dec. 2) with a left knee sprain and Alyssia Brewer missed the Saint Joseph's game (Dec. 31) with a right ankle sprain. The Bruins have already used 173 different combinations of players on the court at the same time this season. In a total of 525 minutes of game action, the leading combination on the floor in terms of minutes played together is Thea Lemberger, Mariah Williams, Atonye Nyingifa, Markel Walker and Alyssia Brewer, but they have only been on the court at the same time for a total of 36:32.