The loss for Oregon marked its only setback in Eugene that season. 22, the Bruins overcame a 22-point deficit and secured their biggest win since knocking off No. In UCLA’s historic win over the Ducks on Feb. UCLA also had seven top-25 wins, including a pair of top-10 wins over then-ranked No. The Bruins collected nine road wins, the most since 2012-13 when the team had 13. The 2018-19 season saw UCLA win 13 of its last 17 games and finish fourth in a highly competitive Pac-12 Conference, and Close was ultimately named the Media Pac-12 Coach of the Year. Dean was drafted with the 30th overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2020 WNBA Draft, becoming the fifth draft pick across Close’s tenure at the helm. Senior Japreece Dean also earned All-Pac-12 honors while Charisma Osborne picked up Pac-12 All-Freshman accolades. Junior Michaela Onyenwere earned AP Third Team All-America acclaim and also garnered All-Pac-12 recognition. The national postseason schedule, however, was canceled due to COVID-19.Ĭlose helped guide the Bruins to a myriad of individual honors during the 2019-20 season. UCLA would, ultimately, finish the year 26-5 and was set to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. A win over the Trojans in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals won the Bruins the season series over their crosstown rival. 6 Stanford marked Close’s 100th-career Pac-12 victory. UCLA won its first 13 games of the campaign, setting a new program record for the most consecutive wins to start a season. Natalie Chou earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention recognition after averaging a career-high 9.9 points per game.Ģ019-20 was an historic year for Close and the Bruins. Onyenwere and Charisma Osborne each picked up All-Pac-12 accolades while Emily Bessoir was tabbed to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. Onyenwere became the sixth Bruin under Close’s tenure to be drafted into the WNBA, and the fifth in the last four years. Michaela Onyenwere earned AP Third-Team All-American honors for the second-straight year and was selected by the New York Liberty with the sixth pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft. Close boasts the highest winning percentage (.662) of the three (Moore. She joined Billie Moore (296-181) and Kathy Olivier (232-208) as the only coaches in program history to eclipse the 200-win milestone. It was the sixth NCAA Tournament appearance under Close’s tenure.Ĭlose earned her 200th-career win in the Bruins’ victory at Arizona State on Dec. Close guided the Bruins to the Pac-12 Tournament championship game and an eventual three-seed in the NCAA Tournament. 5 spot in November, the highest ranking for the program since 2017. The Bruins were ranked inside the top 11 of the AP Poll throughout the season and notched the No. The Bruins posted a 17-6 overall record, picking up wins against five ranked opponents. 1 public institution in America.Ĭlose led the Bruins through an unpredictable 2020-21 season, a campaign that required Close to navigate COVID-19 protocols and a limited roster. UCLA graduated seven members of the 2021-22 squad, including Thomas, Natalie Chou and Chantel Horvat, who all found themselves playing professionally overseas after earning their degrees from the No. Thomas added 15.7 points on 54.4% shooting and 5.9 rebounds per game in 31 appearances for the Bruins. Close guided the Bruins to a postseason run in the WNIT, making a trip to the semifinals before falling to South Dakota State.Ĭharisma Osborne and IImar'I Thomas earned All-Pac-12 honors in the 2021-22 campaign, as Osborne ranked third in the conference in scoring (16.4 ppg). UCLA finished 18-13 overall, but the team managed to catch fire late in the season. The 2021-22 season proved to be “one of the most challenging years of career,” as the Bruins battled injuries and faced postponements and a forfeiture due to COVID-19 protocols. The 2022-23 campaign will mark Close’s 12th season at the helm of the Bruins. Cori Close was named The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach on April 21, 2011, and is currently 233-123 (.654) overall.
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