The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UCLA
Women’s Basketball preview: vs. (3) UCLA
03.23.2021 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns face off with third-seeded UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday.
(6) Texas (19-9; 11-7 Big 12) vs. (3) No. 9/9 UCLA (17-5; 11-4 Pac-12)
Where: San Antonio, Texas
Arena: Alamodome (North Court)
Date: Wednesday, March 24
Time: 8 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2 (Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, Holly Rowe)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Craig Way, Eryn McMahan)
All-time Series: Tied, 6-6
• SETTING THE STAGE: Texas enters the second round of the NCAA Tournament riding high after a 19-point win over 11th-seeded Bradley on Monday night. Ahead of the Longhorns awaits one of their toughest tests of the season in No. 3 seed UCLA. Tip-off at the Alamodome is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 Wednesday night.
• NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: With a win over Bradley, Texas improved to 43-21 (.581 win pct) all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Twenty-eight of those wins have come by at least 15 points, including a 19-point margin of victory over the Braves Monday night in San Marcos. This year marks the seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Texas (2014-19, '21). That streak does not include the 2020 season, which was halted due to COVID-19 prior to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship and subsequent NCAA Tournament selections.
• TURNING THEM OVER: Texas' pressure defense has made an impression on the national and Big 12 stats rankings this year. UT forced a season-high 35 turnovers in a win over SMU on Nov. 25, and created 34 turnovers in its Big 12 opener at Kansas State on Dec. 21. As a result, the Longhorns lead the Big 12 in turnovers forced per game (+17.5) and turnover margin (+5.46). Both marks rank in the top 30 nationally this season.
• CREATING OFFENSE FROM DEFENSE: Texas is utilizing its defense to create offense this season, as the Longhorns has scored at least 20 points off turnovers in 14 games this season. The Longhorns posted a season-high 39 points off turnovers in the season opener versus SMU, and hit the 30-point mark in three-straight outings against Drake (33 points), at Kansas State (38 points) and against Lamar (32 points). Texas is 13-1 when scoring at least 20 points off turnovers this year.
• CHASING CHARLI: Charli Collier, a Lisa Leslie Award finalist (nation's top center) and Second Team AP All-American this season, has been one of college basketball's top performers as a junior. Entering the NCAA Tournament, she was averaging 20.1 points (No. 26 nationally/No. 3 Big 12) and 11.7 rebounds (No. 12/No. 2) per game. In addition, nationally she ranks third in double-doubles (17), 11th in field goals made (194), 12th in final points (542), seventh in free throws made (141), ninth in offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and third in total rebounds (315).
