No. 20 CU Looks To Snap Losing Streak At No. 10 UCLA On Sunday

Sunday, January 1

Los Angeles, Calif.

3:00 PM

Colorado

UCLA

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No. 20 CU Looks To Snap Losing Streak At No. 10 UCLA On Sunday

December 31, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Basketball Game Notes

By: Andy Schlichting, Assistant SID

LOS ANGELES - As No. 20 Colorado is currently on its first losing streak of the season, the Buffaloes are looking to get back to the basics to help them get back to where they were when they opened the season with 10 consecutive wins. CU (10-2, 0-1 Pac-12) dropped its Pac-12 opener on Friday night 79-54 to Southern California, stretching the current losing streak to two after a loss to Wyoming ended the non-conference season last week.

The team has a tall order in hand, playing No. 10 UCLA on Sunday on the road. The Bruins also have a 10-2 overall record, but both of their losses have come on the road to top-10 teams. They won 67-56 over Utah on Friday to open conference play.

First-year head coach JR Payne says the team learned a lot from Friday's loss at USC.

"The film definitely showed there are a lot of things we can do better that have nothing to do with our opponent and more to do with us as far as taking care of the basketball, doing little things it takes to be successful offensively and defensively, and really just perfecting the details that we are asking of [the team]," Payne said. "We talked about the importance of boxing out against a team that's bigger and more athletic than you. And the first two possessions of [Friday's] game, nobody boxed out and then we gave up two [offensive] boards. That's just a perfect example of doing your job, doing the little things that in the end are going to be the big things."

Getting back to the fundamentals will be key going forward in Pac-12 play. Over the past three games, CU has averaged 21 turnovers after committing just 13.1 per game over the first nine wins. It's no coincidence that the first two times the Buffs have lost the turnover battle have also resulted in the first two losses.

The coaching staff wants the team to focus on taking care of the details to help them focus on execution.

"I think what [the coaches] were talking about was those fundamentals, boxing out every time, getting open on the wing," senior Haley Smith said. "Last night we were really having to focus on those things, which makes it harder to be able to talk about the X's and O's. If we can really shore up all of that stuff and have the fundamentals out of the way, we can really focus on the details of how are we going to guard Jordin Canada, and things like that."

Being able to focus on Canada and Monique Billings will be important if the Buffs have a chance of coming out with a win at UCLA. Canada, a junior, leads the Pac-12 in assists per game (7.5), ranks third in steals (2.3) and fourth in scoring (17.7). Her assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.43 also ranks fourth in the Pac-12. Billings, also a junior, is second in the conference in rebounding (10.4) and sixth in scoring (16.4), blocked shots (1.8) and field goal percentage (.507). Canada was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection and named honorable mention AP All-America last year. The duo is one of the top inside-outside combos in the country.

"They're phenomenal," Payne said. "Canada is one of the best point guards in the entire country. She can score on all three levels. She's fast, she's crafty, she's smart, she's got a high IQ. And Billings is extremely athletic, can rebound and can run. At 6-4, she runs as well as any player we've seen all year from point guard to center. And they have shooters and other good players around them."

For that reason, Payne believes it will take a team effort on the defensive end to slow their production.

"I think the important thing for us is to execute and do our job," Payne said. "As individuals, if everyone can just maximize their role, do their job--if everyone can do that, then as a team we can be successful. But we won't try to go toe-to-toe. [If] you go person-to-person, they're more athletic, they're bigger, they're more experienced, etc., etc. But if we can do our job [as individuals], then as a team we can be successful."

Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT at Pauley Pavilion. The game will not be televised, but a live stream will be available from CU's women's basketball schedule page.