How to watch the Indiana women’s basketball game against No. 1 UCLA

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s basketball fans will get a rare treat on Saturday when the Hoosiers get a chance to test themselves against the best team in the country: No. 1 UCLA.

The Bruins have swept their foes so far this season. Of the 14 games UCLA has played, only one of them – a 66-59 win over then-No. 17 Louisville in the season opener – was decided by 10 points or less.

UCLA returned four starters from a Sweet 16 team, including potential National Player of the Year in center Lauren Betts and an elite point guard in Kiki Rice. UCLA coach Cori Close also added transfers Janiah Barker and Timea Gardiner, who have played important roles. The Bruins are loaded.

It will be the sixth time Indiana has played the number one team in the country. The Hoosiers are 0-5 in previous contests. Here is the list of games:

1988 – No. 1 Tennessee 91, Indiana 59

1988 – No. 1 Iowa 72, Indiana 48

1988 – No. 1 Iowa 71, Indiana 47

1994 – No. 1 Penn State 70, Indiana 65

2024 – No. 1 South Carolina 79, Indiana 75

The game against South Carolina occurred last season in a thrilling NCAA Sweet 16 tournament. The Hoosiers nearly erased a 22-point deficit, giving the eventual national champion Gamecocks their toughest test in the NCAA Tournament.

The most recent No. 1 team to visit Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall was No. 1 Penn State in 1994. The Hoosiers gave the Nittany Lions a good fight. A 16-2 Indiana run ended a 62-49 Penn State lead as the Hoosiers led 65-64 with 3:02 left.

However, the Hoosiers did not score again and Penn State outscored Indiana with a field goal and four free throws in the final moments. Lisa Furlin led Indiana with 17 points.

Today’s Hoosiers, winners of six straight, will try to do better against the best team in the country.

How to watch Indiana vs. No. 1 UCLA

• WHO: Indiana Hoosiers (10-3, 2-0) vs. No. 1 UCLA Bruins (14-0, 3-0).

• That: Big Ten regular season game.

• When: Saturday, January 4 at noon Eastern Time.

• Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana.

• TV: FOX.

• Radio: WBWB in Bloomington.

• Radio announcer: Austin rendering.

• Last season: Indiana went 26-8 overall and finished 15-3 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers reached the NCAA Tournament and lost to South Carolina in the Sweet 16. UCLA went 27-7 and 13-5 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Bruins made the NCAA tournament and lost to LSU in the Sweet 16.

• Last match: Indiana defeated Wisconsin 83-52 on Sunday. UCLA defeated Michigan 86-70 on Wednesday.

• Series history: UCLA leads 2-1. The Bruins won the final meeting of 2019 with a 68-58 victory at Assembly Hall. Indiana’s only victory came in 2018 with a 67-65 at Pauley Pavilion.

Statistics

Indiana Hoosiers

• Guards (as officially listed): Yarden Garzón (14.1 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists), Sydney Parrish (10 points per game, 5.9 assists), Shay Ciezki (11.9 points per game, 2.5 assists) , Chloe Moore McNeil (9.1 ppg, 3.7 assists, 4.2 assists), Julianna LaMendola (3.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Lexus Bargesser (3.8 points per game), Henna Sandvik (3.3 points per game), Valentyna Kadlecova (2.2 points per game).

• Forwards/centers: Lilly Meister (11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Karoline Striplin (9 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Sharnecce Currie-Jelks (0.4 ppg), Faith Wiseman ( 0.2 points per game, 1 role play).

#1 UCLA Bruins

• Guards: Kiki Rice (13.3 points per game, 3 rebounds, 4 assists), Londynn Jones (7.9 points per game), Elina Aarnisalo (7.6 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists), Avary Cain (2.2 points per game).

• Forwards/centers: Lauren Betts (19.3 points per game, 9.8 rebounds), Gabriela Jaquez (10.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists), Janiah Barker (9.6 points per game, 7.6 rebounds), Angela Dugalic (9.5 ppg, 7.1 rebounds), Timea Gardiner (9.1 ppg, 4.2 RPG) Kendall Dudley (2.7 ppg, 3.1 rebounds), Zania Socka-Ngueman (1.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds).

Classifications

• UCLA has held the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 since Nov. 25. The Bruins began the season ranked No. 5 and rose to first place from No. 5. Indiana is unranked.

Meet the coaches

• Teri Moren, Indiana: Moren is in his 11th season at Indiana and has a career record of 236-102 with the Hoosiers. Her overall record in 22 years as a head coach is 435-232. Moren previously coached at Indiana State from 2010 to 2014 and the University of Indianapolis from 2000 to 2007. Moren also was an assistant coach at Butler (1992-98), Northwestern (1998-2000) and Georgia Tech (2007-10). Moren, a native of Seymour, Indiana, played collegiately at Purdue from 1988-92.

• Cori nearby, UCLA: Close is in his 14th season at UCLA and has compiled a record of 301-140. Prior to her arrival in Westwood, Close was the associate head coach at Florida State (2004-2011) and her alma mater, UC Santa Barbara (1995-2004). Close began his career as an assistant at UCLA (1993-95). He played at UCSB from 1989 to 1993.