The Big Ten squads are set to meet hot off double-digit wins for just the sixth time across 25 years. UCLA currently holds a 3-2 edge when facing Ohio State at home, and last defeated the Buckeyes by just six points in Columbus in 2023. Ohio State leads 5-4 in the overall series record.
Cotie McMahon, Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts were just Sophomores at the time, but now meet as Naismith Player of the Year Candidates.
Betts headlines the undefeated Bruins with 20.2 points per game and a conference-high 2.8 blocks per game. The center comes into the matchup as the reigning AP Player of the Week after dropping a career-high of 11 assists against Minnesota — the most by a player 6-foot-7 or taller since 2003.
Rice led all starters with 14 points, three rebounds and one assist in the Bruin’s 79-53 win over Minnesota Sunday. Yesterday, the guard was tabbed for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Watchlist.
With the combo of Rice and Betts, UCLA has yet to suffer a loss at Pauley Pavilion, or at all this season, beating its opponents by a scoring margin of 27.3 points on average. UCLA remains the last undefeated team in Division I basketball.
However, the Buckeyes sit right at the heels of the Bruins, just one loss behind the Bruins’ No. 1 conference rank.
Ohio State suffered its first loss of the season to Penn State two weeks ago, falling 59-62. Since then, McMahon has averaged 16 points per game to resume the Buckeyes’ win streak. The forward leads Ohio State with 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on the season. McMahon last put up 19 points, going 9-for-16 from the field to lead the Buckeyes to a 66-56 win over Washington on Sunday.
