2018–19 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team

The 2018–19 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by eighth year head coach Cori Close, played their home games at the Pauley Pavilion. They were members of the Pac-12 Conference.

2018–19 UCLA Bruins women's basketball
NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixeen
ConferencePac-12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 14
APNo. 20
2018–19 record22–13 (12–6 Pac-12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Shannon Perry
  • Tasha Brown
  • Tony Newnan
Home arenaPauley Pavilion
2018–19 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 7 Oregon16–2 .889  33–5  .868
No. 6 Stanford †15–3 .833  31–5  .861
No. 11 Oregon State14–4 .778  26–8  .765
No. 20 UCLA12–6 .667  22–13  .629
No. 22 Arizona State10–7 .588  22–11  .667
Utah9–9 .500  20–10  .667
California9–9 .500  20–13  .606
Arizona7–11 .389  24–13  .649
USC7–11 .389  17–13  .567
Washington State4–14 .222  9–21  .300
Washington2–15 .118  11–21  .344
Colorado2–16 .111  12–18  .400
† 2019 Pac-12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The Bruins started the season 3–5, their worst start since the 2014–15 season, before going on a 6-game winning streak. The Bruins then lost their next four, including a 72–67 home loss on January 20 to a USC team that had failed to win any of its first five conference games. The loss dropped the Bruins to 0–3 in Pac-12 home games on the season; in the previous three seasons, they had only lost one Pac-12 home game.

The Bruins' next game following the USC loss was an upset road win over No. 16 Arizona State. The Bruins then traveled to Arizona and defeated the Wildcats 98–93 in three overtimes; the game was the first three-overtime game in UCLA women's basketball history, as well as the longest Pac-12 women's basketball game in over a decade.

On February 10, 2019, the Bruins upset No. 17 Utah, 100–90, in Salt Lake City. The Bruins' 40 points in the fourth quarter was the highest single-quarter point tally in UCLA women's basketball history.

On February 22, 2019, the Bruins upset No. 2 Oregon, 74–69, in Eugene. This was the Bruins' first win over a top five opponent since 2013. The Bruins erased a 22-point deficit in the comeback victory.

The Bruins finished the regular season with a 19–11 overall record and a 12–6 record in Pac-12 play (5–4 at home and 7–2 on the road), having won 10 of their last 12 regular season games. UCLA's only two losses during that 12-game span were against No. 10 Stanford at home and No. 12 Oregon State on the road.

On March 6, 2019, Pac-12 media members voted head coach Cori Close Pac-12 Coach of the Year.[1]

The Bruins secured a (4) seed and a first-round bye to the Pac-12 Tournament. They defeated (5) Arizona State in the quarterfinals before losing to (1) Oregon in overtime in the semifinals.

The Bruins secured a (6) seed in the NCAA Women’s Tournament. They defeated (11) Tennessee 89–77 in the first round and defeated (3) Maryland 85–80 in the second round before losing to (2) Connecticut 69–61 in the Sweet Sixteen. The Bruins concluded the season with a 22–13 overall record. They won 13 of their last 17 games after starting the season 9–9.

Offseason

Departures
Name Pos. Height Year Hometown Reason for Departure
Ashley Hearn F 6'4" RS Jr. Rowlett, Texas Graduated in December 2018; transferred mid-season to Texas A&M
Jordin Canada G 5'6" Sr. Los Angeles, California Graduated; selected 5th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2018 WNBA Draft
Monique Billings F 6'4" Sr. Corona, California Graduated; selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA Draft
Kelli Hayes G 6'0" Sr. San Jose, California Graduated

Incoming transfer
NamePos.HeightYearHometownPrevious
school
Natalie ChouGuard6'1"SoPlano, TXBaylor

    2018 recruiting class

    Source:[2]

    US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
    Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
    Ahlana Smith
    G    		 Charlotte, NC Mallard Creek 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) N/A  
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 97
    Shayley Harris
    P    		 Redding, CA Folsom 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) N/A  
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 90
    Kiara Jefferson
    PG    		 Sacramento, CA West Campus 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) N/A  
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 90
    Overall recruiting rankings:
    • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
    • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

    Sources:

      Roster
      2018–19 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team
      PlayersCoaches
      Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
      G 0 Chantel Horvat 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) SoGeelong College Geelong, Australia
      G 1 Kayla Owens 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) RS FrLangham Creek Houston, TX
      G 2 Ahlana Smith 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) FrMallard Creek Charlotte, NC
      G 3 Kiara Jefferson 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) FrWest Campus Sacramento, CA
      G 4 Lindsey Corsaro 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) RS FrRoncalli Indianapolis, IN
      F 10 Ally Rosenblum 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) JrMater Dei Newport Coast, CA
      F 11 Lajahna Drummer 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) RS SrLong Beach Poly HS Inglewood, CA
      F 21 Michaela Onyenwere 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) SoGrandview Aurora, CO
      G 22 Kennedy Burke 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) SrSierra Canyon School Northridge, CA
      G 23 Natalie Chou  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) JrPlano West
      Baylor      		 Plano, TX
      G 24 Japreece Dean 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) SrVista Ridge
      Texas Tech      		 Austin, TX
      F/C 25 Shayley Harris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) FrFolsom Redding, CA
      G 32 Chrissy Baird 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) RS SrWheaton North Wheaton, IL
      F 33 Lauryn Miller 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) SoKirkwood Kirkwood, MO
      G 51 Eliana Sigal (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) FrTarbut V' Torah Irvine, CA
      Head coach
      Assistant coach(es)
      Legend
      • (C) Team captain
      • (S) Suspended
      • (I) Ineligible
      • (W) Walk-on

      Roster

      Schedule

      [3]

      Date
      time, TV      		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
      city, state
      Exhibition
      11/03/2018*
      2:00 pm      		 Westmont W 75–55 
      		Pauley Pavilion (815)
      Los Angeles, CA
      Non-conference regular season
      11/06/2018*
      7:30 pm      		 at Loyola Marymount L 63–69  0–1
      		 Gersten Pavilion (498)
      Los Angeles, CA
      11/11/2018*
      2:00 pm      		 Rice W 59–50  1–1
      		 Pauley Pavilion (1,353)
      Los Angeles, CA
      11/14/2018*
      11:00 am, P12N      		 No. 14 Georgia W 80–69  2–1
      		 Pauley Pavilion (5,113)
      Los Angeles, CA
      11/18/2018*
      2:00 pm      		 Seton Hall W 78–62  3–1
      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,157)
      Los Angeles, CA
      11/22/2018*
      12:00 pm      		 vs. North Carolina
      Paradise Jam Tournament Island Division      		 L 49–83  3–2
      		 Sports and Fitness Center (874)
      Saint Thomas, USVI
      11/23/2018*
      10:00 am      		 vs. Kentucky
      Paradise Jam Tournament Island Division      		 L 74–75 OT 3–3
      		 Sports and Fitness Center 
      Saint Thomas, USVI
      11/24/2018*
      12:00 pm      		 vs. No. 17 South Florida
      Paradise Jam Tournament Island Division      		 L 56–60  3–4
      		 Sports and Fitness Center (814)
      Saint Thomas, USVI
      12/02/2018*
      1:00 pm, P12N      		 Indiana L 65–67  3–5
      		 Pauley Pavilion (3,511)
      Los Angeles, CA
      12/07/2018*
      7:00 pm      		 Fresno State W 89–80  4–5
      		 Pauley Pavilion (1,190)
      Los Angeles, CA
      12/16/2018*
      2:00 pm      		 Oklahoma State W 71–59  5–5
      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,501)
      Los Angeles, CA
      12/19/2018*
      4:00 pm, ESPN+      		 at UIC W 78–47  6–5
      		 Credit Union 1 Arena (640)
      Chicago, IL
      12/28/2018*
      5:00 pm      		 Cal Poly W 81–35  7–5
      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,121)
      Los Angeles, CA
      Pac-12 regular season
      12/30/2018
      2:00 pm, P12N      		 at USC
      Rivalry      		 W 72–65  8–5
      (1–0)      		 Galen Center (1,173)
      Los Angeles, CA
      01/04/2019
      7:00 pm, P12N      		 at No. 18 California W 84–79 OT 9–5
      (2–0)      		 Haas Pavilion (2,107)
      Berkeley, CA
      01/06/2019
      1:00 pm, P12N      		 at No. 6 Stanford L 80–86  9–6
      (2–1)      		 Maples Pavilion (3,231)
      Stanford, CA
      01/11/2019
      7:00 pm, P12N      		 No. 10 Oregon State L 73–83  9–7
      (2–2)      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,404)
      Los Angeles, CA
      01/13/2019
      2:00 pm, P12N      		 No. 5 Oregon L 52–72  9–8
      (2–3)      		 Pauley Pavilion (8,036)
      Los Angeles, CA
      01/20/2019
      4:00 pm, P12N      		 USC
      Rivalry      		 L 67–72  9–9
      (2–4)      		 Pauley Pavilion (6,103)
      Los Angeles, CA
      01/25/2019
      10:00 am, P12N      		 at No. 16 Arizona State W 61–59  10–9
      (3–4)      		 Wells Fargo Arena (7,322)
      Tempe, AZ
      01/27/2019
      1:00 pm, P12N      		 at Arizona W 98–93 3OT 11–9
      (4–4)      		 McKale Center (2,327)
      Tucson, AZ
      02/01/2019
      7:00 pm      		 Washington State W 83–56  12–9
      (5–4)      		 Pauley Pavilion (1,419)
      Los Angeles, CA
      02/03/2019
      12:30 pm      		 Washington W 76–60  13–9
      (6–4)      		 Pauley Pavilion (1,642)
      Los Angeles, CA
      02/08/2019
      6:00 pm, P12N      		 at Colorado W 64–60  14–9
      (7–4)      		 CU Events Center (2,261)
      Boulder, CO
      02/10/2019
      11:00 am, P12N      		 at No. 17 Utah W 100–90  15–9
      (8–4)      		 Jon M. Huntsman Center (2,107)
      Salt Lake City, UT
      02/15/2019
      6:00 pm, P12N      		 No. 10 Stanford L 51–65  15–10
      (8–5)      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,479)
      Los Angeles, CA
      02/17/2019
      4:00 pm, P12N      		 California W 80–74  16–10
      (9–5)      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,127)
      Los Angeles, CA
      02/22/2019
      8:00 pm, P12N      		 at No. 2 Oregon W 74–69  17–10
      (10–5)      		 Matthew Knight Arena (8,858)
      Eugene, OR
      02/24/2019
      1:00 pm, P12N      		 at No. 12 Oregon State L 72–75  17–11
      (10–6)      		 Gill Coliseum (5,916)
      Corvallis, OR
      03/01/2019
      7:00 pm      		 No. 25 Utah W 76–60  18–11
      (11–6)      		 Pauley Pavilion (1,450)
      Los Angeles, CA
      03/03/2019
      12:00 pm, P12N      		 No. 25 Colorado W 84–50  19–11
      (12–6)      		 Pauley Pavilion (2,411)
      Los Angeles, CA
      Pac-12 Women's Tournament
      03/08/2019
      11:30 am, P12N      		 (4) No. 25 vs. (5) No. 20 Arizona State
      Quarterfinals      		 W 73–69  20–11
      		 MGM Grand Garden Arena 
      Paradise, NV
      03/09/2019
      6:00 pm, P12N      		 (4) No. 25 vs. (1) No. 6 Oregon
      Semifinals      		 L 83–88 OT 20–12
      		 MGM Grand Garden Arena 
      Paradise, NV
      NCAA Women's Tournament
      03/23/2019*
      10:30 am, ESPN2      		 (6 A) No. 20 vs. (11 A) Tennessee
      First Round      		 W 89–77  21–12
      		 Xfinity Center (5,072)
      College Park, MD
      03/25/2019*
      4:00 pm, ESPN      		 (6 A) No. 20 at (3 A) No. 9 Maryland
      Second Round      		 W 85–80  22–12
      		 Xfinity Center (3,941)
      College Park, MD
      03/29/2019*
      4:00 pm, ESPN      		 (6 A) No. 20 vs. (2 A) No. 2 Connecticut
      Sweet Sixteen      		 L 61–69  22–13
      		 Times Union Center 
      Albany, NY
      *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. A=Albany Region.
      All times are in Pacific Time.

      Rankings

      2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings

      Regular Season Polls
      PollPre-
      Season      		Week
      2      		Week
      3      		Week
      4      		Week
      5      		Week
      6      		Week
      7      		Week
      8      		Week
      9      		Week
      10      		Week
      11      		Week
      12      		Week
      13      		Week
      14      		Week
      15      		Week
      16      		Week
      17      		Week
      18      		Week
      19      		Final
      AP RV RV RV RV 25 25 20 N/A
      Coaches 23 23^ RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 14
      Legend
        Increase in ranking
        Decrease in ranking
        Not ranked previous week
      (RV)   Received Votes
      (NR)   Not Ranked

      ^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.

      Honors
      • March 5, 2019 – Michaela Onyenwere was named All-Pac-12 team, Kennedy Burke was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and All-Defensive team, Lindsey Corsaro named to the All-Freshman team
      • March 6, 2019 – Coach Cori Close was named the Pac-12 media Coach of the Year
      • March 10, 2019 – Kennedy Burke and Japreece Dean were named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team

      See also

      2018–19 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team

      Notes
      • March 3, 2019 – The Bruins earned a four seed in the Pac-12 Tournament and play on Friday, March 8's quarterfinals at 11:30 a.m. (PT)

      References
      1. https://uclabruins.com/news/2019/3/6/womens-basketball-cori-close-awarded-media-pac-12-coach-of-the-year.aspx
      2. "UCLA Bruins". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
      3. "UCLA Athletics". UCLABruins.com. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
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