LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A surging Washington team faces its toughest test of the season Thursday night when the Huskies visit UCLA in a pivotal Big Ten women’s basketball clash at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins (24-1, 14-0 Big Ten) have been the nation’s dominant force, riding a 17-game winning streak since their lone loss in November. Their average margin of victory in conference play is a staggering 28.6 points. UCLA’s engine is 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, who is averaging a double-double and coming off a 16-point, 14-rebound performance in a 92-48 rout of Indiana. Her efficiency and defensive presence anchor the nation’s top-ranked team. Washington (19-7, 9-5), however, arrives with momentum, having won three of its last four, including a 51-43 defensive struggle against Oregon on Sunday. The Huskies are led by dynamic guard Sayvia Sellers, who is averaging 21.1 points per game in February. She scored 38 points in a double-overtime win at Maryland last month and dropped 23 points and five assists in an overtime victory at Wisconsin on Feb. 8. Her backcourt battle with UCLA’s Kiki Rice will be critical. The Huskies have shown resilience in close games, with a 2-2 record in contests decided by five points or less or overtime in league play. Containing Betts inside and finding consistent offense beyond Sellers will be their primary challenges against a Bruins defense that allows just 56.2 points per game. This matchup is a stark contrast in trajectories: UCLA, the established powerhouse chasing a conference title and top overall NCAA tournament seed, versus Washington, a team solidifying its NCAA resume and seeking a program-defining upset. The Huskies’ last win over a top-ranked opponent came in 1990. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday. UCLA hosts Wisconsin on Sunday, while Washington returns home to face Nebraska.