The country's top team looks to stay perfect and open at 20-0. Presenters can pull off a crucial two slides and win the big statement. Top-ranked UCLA will be a huge favorite heading into Sunday afternoon's briefing against Maryland, but the Terrapins have the offense and home edge to at least make this interesting.
How to watch No. 1 UCLA at No. 8 Maryland
Where: Xfinity Center - College Park, MD.
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Streaming: Fubo (try it for free)
Looking face to face? Get your tickets on Stubhub.
This will be the Terps' "Blackout" game of the year. Their black alternative jerseys are the cleanest and coolest in college basketball. Junior guard Kaylene Smikle has been a reliable bucket this season, averaging a career-high in points per game. However, her running mate in the backcourt, Maryland's second option Shyanne Sellers, injured her knee in the team's loss to Texas. They had their pre-L outing against Ohio State 74-66.
Things get worse. Junior Bri McDaniel, the third-leading scorer, competed in the ACL against Minnesota on Jan. 14. Brenda Frese's team will look to simplify the game and play to their strengths: get to the line, grab rebounds and set the tempo.
Of course, UCLA won't let the team get comfortable. These brown bears are a freight train. They shot 49.3% from the field and outscored their opponents by 33.1. Center Lauren Betts was completely dominant, averaging 20 points and 10 double-doubles while leading the Big Ten. Her teammates took advantage of the gravity she commanded and found space behind the arc. Londynn Jones doesn't hesitate to let it fly, while Timea Gardiner is a spark off the bench and Kiki Rice is the sharpest in the sport One of the best jump shooters.
Overall, this is a great team, but Bates is the turbocharged engine that makes it all come together:
The Bruins are still a long way from running the glove, but a 20-0 start would put them just beyond a perfect season. South Carolina is 38-0 in 2023-24. This was accomplished by 10 teams in women's college ball, six of which were UConn outfits.
S Mark Schindler from Bracket Central:
"What has UCLA done this season? It's one of two undefeated Division I teams left. It has five quarter-final wins and ranks third in the country. It goes to South Carolina, It's the only loss of the year. The Bruins haven't taken the brunt of a Big Ten schedule yet, but they're doing what you're supposed to do: win convincingly. Does the team get the highest overall seed from the Bruins? Absolutely, but for now, the case is closed."
This article originally appeared in Sports.
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