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Preview: Rising Indiana Hoosiers host unblemished UCLA Bruins

The Indiana Hoosiers have never been to a Sweet Sixteen, but they sit at No. 12 in the nation with one last game before conference play. Meanwhile, the No. 10 UCLA Bruins are hoping to pick up a key road win and remain in the top 10 in the process.

By Zachary Ward
Indiana Hoosiers Grace Berger (34) plays against Mt. St.
Grace Berger is one of five Indiana players averaging double-figure scoring.
Photo by Bobby Goddin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers welcome the No. 10 UCLA Bruins to Bloomington at 12 p.m. today in a matchup between two teams that are on a roll.

UCLA is 10-0, while the Hoosiers’ two quality wins (over No. 5 South Carolina and previously-ranked Miami) have kept them from feeling too bad about their one loss, which came against the defending champion Baylor Lady Bears; Baylor was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time.

The Hoosiers (10-1) have been a feel-good story this season. They started at No. 24 in the country and have risen all the way to No. 12 behind strong play from all four classes. Their top four scorers each come from a different class, while their fifth leading scorer joins those four in double-figure points per game. Sophomore Grace Berger leads the way with 13.9 points per game, while junior Ali Patberg, senior Brenna Wise, freshman Mackenzie Holmes and junior Jaelynn Penn follow in that order.

UCLA will have the best player on the floor, however, in junior forward Michaela Onyenwere. Senior guard Japreece Dean is a solid option as the Bruins’ second-leading scorer after Onyenwere, while freshman Charisma Osborne’s clutch play could be an x-factor for UCLA. Osborne scored key points in the fourth quarter of a 68-57 win over the Pacific Tigers on Dec. 15 that helped the Bruins pull away. She also scored 17 points in her first career game as a Bruin, a mark she matched against Pacific.

Indiana has a definitive edge in overall field goal percentage (49.5 to 42) and 3-point shooting (34.2 percent to 26.8), while the Bruins have the edge in free throw shooting (76.4 percent to 67.8). Both teams have a lot of momentum — with UCLA being undefeated and Indiana winning by double digits in each of its last five games — so this should be a good one.

Game information

No. 10 UCLA Bruins (10-0) vs. No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers (10-1)

When: Sunday, Dec. 22 at 12 p.m. ET

Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, IN

How to watch/listen: Big Ten Network/HoosiersTV (audio only)

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