UCLA has lost two games all season … both to JuJu Watkins and her USC teammates. The Bruins look capable of beating anyone in the country. It feels like eons ago, but they ended South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak this season. They’ll reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2018 if they can knock off Ole Miss on Friday night.
How to watch No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 Ole Miss
- What: Spokane 1 Regional, Sweet 16
- Venue: Spokane Arena — Spokane, Wash.
- Time: 10 p.m. ET, Friday
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
- Watching in-person? Get tickets on StubHub.
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Cori Close’s crew rolled past Richmond in Westwood for the Round of 32. Lauren Betts was just about unstoppable — 30 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. She took 17 shots and missed … three of them. Sheesh.
. @laurenbetts12 BATTLING DOWN LOW 💪#MarchMadness x 🎥 ESPN / @UCLAWBB pic.twitter.com/8KwxZpUw4U
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 24, 2025
UCLA was feeling it from beyond the arc, and the gravity of guarding Betts earned easy looks around the floor. Kiki Rice hit four treys in six tries, while the microwavable Timea Gardiner had three more off the bench. This game was tied at the half, then blown off its hinges by a 29-7 Bruins run in the third quarter.
Ole Miss got here by upsetting Baylor in Waco. Freshman guard Sira Thienou had an efficient 16 points and fifth-year program staple Madison Scott added 14. The Rebels, coached by Yolett McPhee-McCuin, don’t care for the 3-ball much. They’ve advanced off the strength of their offensive rebounding and turnover differential.
Both of those are hard to contend for with Betts on the baseline. The Bruins are sizable favorites in Spokane, but Ole Miss can hang with the juggernauts. It lost by two to USC and three to Texas during the regular season, while beating LSU in The Jungle.
This matchup can also be streamed on ESPN+.
UCLA vs. Ole Miss odds
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(Photo of Lauren Betts: Robert Hanashiro / Imagn Images)