After a week off, Lady Vols basketball is back in action. Tennessee is headed to the West Coast to square off with UCLA in a road game.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup, from broadcast details to a prediction.
More From RTI: Where Lady Vols Basketball Projects in Updated Bracketology Ahead of Critical Stretch
How to Watch — No. 14 Lady Vols (5-1, 0-0 SEC) at UCLA (7-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
- Start Time: 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Watch: FS1 | PxP: Elise Woodward, Analyst: Kim Adams
- Online Streaming: Watch FOX Sports
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Brian Rice, Studio Host: Jay Lifford
Betting Odds
UCLA -13.5 (Bet MGM)
ESPN Matchup Predictor
UCLA: 77.5%
Lady Vols: 22.6%
What Kim Caldwell Said About UCLA
“It’s gonna be a big trip. We’re gonna have to grow up real fast. I think what I’m looking forward to the most is an intentional week of practice going into a really big road trip. And we have to mature. We have to grow. I think that there will be a sense of urgency in practice going forward. I hope that there is. If not, it’s gonna be a miserable trip. But I’m excited about that.
“I’m excited to really see where we’re at. I think UCLA has a legitimate chance to win a national championship, and we’re going there, and we’re playing them on their home floor. And I think that that, again, is a measuring stick, and that’s why we’re playing the schedule is to see where we’re at and how we need to improve. If we’re not where we are at, where we’re gonna finish, we’re gonna get better than how we’re playing right now. They’re a pretty polished team. They’re a pretty veteran team. So we need to be ready.”
Last Five Games
Lady Vols:
- vs. Coppin State – 88-35 W
- at MTSU – 85-41 W
- vs. Belmont – 68-58 W
- at UT Martin – 72-61 W
- vs. ETSU – 97-47 W
UCLA:
- vs. Duke (Vegas) – 89-59 W
- vs. Texas (Vegas) – 76-65 L
- vs. Southern – 88-37 W
- vs. USF – 94-61 W
- vs. North Carolina (Vegas) – 78-60 W
Where They Land In Rankings
Lady Vols:
AP Poll – No. 14
Coaches Poll – No. 11
Bart Torvik – No. 11
UCLA:
AP Poll – No. 3
Coaches Poll – No. 3
Bart Torvik – No. 3
Stat Leaders
Lady Vols:
- Points: Talaysia Cooper – 16.2
- Rebounds: Talaysia Cooper – 7.7
- Assists: Talaysia Cooper – 4.0
UCLA:
- Points: Kiki Rice – 14.8
- Rebounds: Lauren Betts – 7.4
- Assists: Charlisse Leger-Walker – 5.5
Prediction
The Lady Vols are capable of winning this game, but I’ll pick UCLA to defend its home court. The Bruins fell short to Texas in Vegas, but hammered Duke in the following game. They also hold wins over North Carolina and Oklahoma. Being this battle-tested could go a long way.
On the other side, the Lady Vols hold a nice road win over a struggling MTSU team, but have left room to be desired outside of buy games at home. In their only big test, they lost to NC State to open the year with plenty of issues to correct.
Tennessee is going to have to play a sound game to pull off the upset. The biggest key will be shot selection. The Lady Vols can’t fall into the trap of poor half-court efforts resulting in launching an ill-advised three. If they do that, the Bruins will clean things up on the glass.
We’ll also see if UCLA star Lauren Betts is good to go. She missed the game against Duke and is considered day-to-day. It doesn’t seem like she’s trending toward playing, but there’s no official decision. UT’s post players will have their hands full if she does.
UCLA 78, Lady Vols 70
