Preview: UCLA Bruins at Ohio State Buckeyes COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — A marquee nonconference clash between top-10 women’s basketball powers will highlight the weekend slate as the UCLA Bruins visit the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday at Value City Arena. Both teams enter with identical 11-1 records, each riding a wave of dominant victories. The matchup, organized by the Big Ten, features two of the nation’s most efficient offenses. The Bruins, whose lone loss came at then-Texas in November, have been relentless, winning their last seven games by an average of 47.1 points. They are coming off a 106-44 demolition of Long Beach State on Dec. 20. UCLA’s attack is orchestrated by star guard Kiki Rice, who is averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds over her last four contests. In the win over Long Beach State, Rice posted 15 points and seven assists in just 26 minutes. “We’re playing with great pace and sharing the ball,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “This will be our toughest road test to date, and we need to be prepared for that environment.” Ohio State has been equally impressive since a Nov. 16 road loss to then-Connecticut, winning nine straight. The Buckeyes routed Western Michigan 95-47 on Monday. Finnish forward Elsa Lemmilä provides a major spark off the bench, scoring 15 points in just 14 minutes in that victory. She is shooting 68% from the field over her last six games. “Elsa brings immediate energy and efficiency,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. “Against a team like UCLA, we’ll need contributions from everyone.” The game pits UCLA’s high-octane, transition offense against an Ohio State defense that has held its last six opponents to an average of 52.8 points. The Bruins lead the nation in field goal percentage (55.8%), while the Buckeyes force over 21 turnovers per game. This marks the programs’ first meeting since 2021. The winner will secure a pivotal resume victory ahead of conference play. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. EST Sunday. The game will be televised on ESPN.