NCAAW: No. 1-ranked UCLA Bruins maintain perch at top of the sport

Conference play is in full swing across women’s college basketball. Here’s a look back at the best moments from the past week’s action:

Bruins are best in class

On Sunday afternoon, Tennessee came up missed 3-pointer short of coming back and beating Oklahoma, with the 87-86 defeat knocking the Lady Vols from the ranks of the undefeated.

That leaves five NCAA Division I teams with perfect records: UCLA, LSU, Maryland, Ohio State and Georgia Tech. Among the bunch, the Bruins are the best, owning by far the highest net rating (51.59) and strength of schedule (10.22) of the undefeateds. UCLA earned their 15th win on Saturday, going to Bloomington and beating Indiana, 73-62. Holding the Hoosiers to a five-point second quarter, along with a 25-point and 12-rebound double-double from junior center Lauren Betts, were the key ingredients to the Bruins’ victory.

Top-ranked UCLA should continue to cruise until they meet fellow unbeaten Maryland on Jan. 26. Before then, however, the Terrapins’ perfection will be tested against the Trojans, as Maryland, after escaping Iowa with a win, hosts USC this Wednesday, Jan. 8. Ohio State also must prevail against the Big Ten’s best to maintain their undefeated mark. On Wednesday, they meet Michigan in Ann Arbor. This week also presents a tough test for LSU, as the Tigers take on the recently-beaten Lady Vols on Thursday. Georgia Tech’s biggest hurdle will come on Jan. 16, when the Jackets go to South Bend to take on Notre Dame.

Fingers crossed for Paige

It seems UConn cannot completely shake the injury bug (curse?) that has afflicted the program over the past few seasons.

After senior guard Azzi Fudd experienced a knee injury scare a few weeks ago, causing her to miss three games, redshirt senior star Paige Bueckers limped off the court during UConn’s 83-52 victory over Villanova on Sunday. With a little more than one minute remaining in third quarter, Bueckers was reaching for a loose ball when a Villanova player dove for the ball, falling into Bueckers’ left knee.

Following the game, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma compared Bueckers’ situation to that of Fudd from a few weeks prior, expressing optimism because Bueckers appeared to have avoided a worst-case outcome.

Bueckers contributed 15 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals before her afternoon was cut short. Freshman forward Sarah Strong led the Huskies with 21 points, five boards and four assists.

Bring on the buckets, boards and more

Since the end of the holiday break, there have been no shortage of standout performances from across women’s college basketball. These were some of the most spectacular efforts:

• Elle Ladine gift wrapped a 40-piece on Saturday, Dec. 28, with the Washington junior guard swishing six 3s on her way to 40 points in the 90-71 win over Northwestern. She also added six assists and two steals.

• Akron senior guard Alexus Mobely closed out 2024 with a high-scoring, stat-stuffing performance on Saturday, Dec. 28, with 30 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks in the 80-52 victory over Miami-Hamilton.

• Drake senior guard Katie Dinnebier turned in one more masterclass before the calendar flipped to 2025. She had 32 points, making all her 2-point attempts and going 5-for-8 from 3, along with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals, in the Sunday, Dec. 29 win over Evansville, 76-54. Her first game in the new year was similarly excellent, as Dinnebier had 31 points, going 6-for-8 from 3, as Drake defeated Valparaiso 82-64 on Saturday. She added five rebounds, four assists and four steals in the Bulldogs’ seventh-straight win.

• Senior guard Delanie Crawford dropped 36 points in Tulsa’s win over East Carolina, 93-84, on Sunday, Dec. 29. She also totaled seven boards, four steals and a pair of assists.

• Stephen F. Austin junior guard Avery Vansickle scorched the nets with nine 3s on Sunday, Dec. 29. As a team, the Ladyjacks made a program-record 20 triples. Vansickle finished with 31 points, seven boards and six assists in the victory over Texas A&M-San Antonio, 113-33.

• USC sophomore sensation JuJu Watkins polished off 2024 by leading the Trojans over Michigan, 78-58, on Sunday, Dec. 29. Watkins made 13-of-14 free throws on her way to 31 points, while also adding seven assists, five boards, three steals and three blocks. To welcome 2025, Watkins scored an easy 26 points in the Trojans’ 75-55 win over Nebraska on New Year’s Day. She again made her mark at the line, going 11-of-12 at the stripe.

• Sonia Citron tied her season high with 25 points in Notre Dame’s 94-54 win over Virginia on Sunday, Dec. 29. The senior guard grabbed 11 rebounds for the double-double. She also had four assists, two blocks and a steal. This past Sunday, sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo and senior guard Olivia Miles again were sensational for the Irish in their win over North Carolina, 76-66. Hidalgo scored 24 points, draining five 3s and dishing five assists. Miles matched Hidalgo’s five 3s and five assists, while finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds.

• Georgia Tech maintained their undefeated mark on Sunday, Dec. 29 behind junior guard Kara Dunn. She poured in 28 points, while also chipping in seven boards and three assists, as the Jackets dropped 100 on Pitt for the 100-61 win.

• A name to know for 2025, Vanderbilt sophomore forward Khamil Pierre finished off 2024 in style, scoring 29 points, grabbing seven boards, tossing four assists and snagging four steals in Vandy’s 93-64 victory over Alabama A&M on Sunday, Dec. 29. Then, Vandy’s other rising star, freshman guard Mikayla Blakes, assumed the spotlight as SEC play began. Her 36 points in Thursday’s 108-82 domination of Georgia is a new program record for a freshman. For the cherry on top, she also finished her first conference game with no turnovers.

• Audi Crooks began 2025 by matching her highest scoring game of the season, with the Iowa State sophomore center pouring in 33 points to lead the Cyclones past Kansas, 78-65. Crooks also tallied seven boards and two blocks in the New Year’s Day matchup.

• West Virginia senior guard JJ Quinerly also began the new year with a season-high scoring performance, dropping 31 points in the 80-58 win over UCF on Wednesday. She also added a trio of boards, assists and steals.

• It’s no surprise that Ta’Niya Latson began 2025 with another scoring masterpiece. This time, it came in the form of a 40-ball, tying the single-game record for Florida State. The junior guard also racked up five assists and five steals in the Seminoles’ conference victory over Virginia Tech, 105-74.

• Kansas scored their first Big 12 win on Saturday, beating Oklahoma State 75-66 behind 27 points, seven assists, four boards and four steals from sophomore guard S’Mya Nichols.

• Senior forward Cordasia Harris powered Alabama State to the 64-49 win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday with a 28-point and 16-rebound double-double.

• Sophomore guard Tessa Johnson lit up the nets for South Carolina on Sunday, going 4-for-6 from 3 to score 22 points from off the bench in the Gamecocks’ 95-68 win over Mississippi State.

A look ahead

The intensification of conference play offers some interesting matchups this week (more of which should be shown on broadcast television, and not just available on streaming platforms):

Wednesday, Jan. 8

Ohio State vs. Michigan (7 p.m. ET, B1G+)

USC vs. Maryland (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1)

Thursday, Jan. 9

LSU vs. Tennessee (6:30 p.m. ET, SECN+)

Duke vs. North Carolina (7 p.m. ET, ACC Network)

Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss (7:30 p.m. ET, SECN+)

Alabama vs. Texas (8 p.m. ET, SECN+)

Sunday, Jan. 12

Texas vs. South Carolina (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Georgia Tech vs. Louisville (4 p.m. ET, ACC Network)

Alabama vs. Ole Miss (4 p.m. ET, SECN+)