LOS ANGELES – February 26th, 2024

Intro | 00:00-0:26 (The Moments - Love On a Two Way Street)

UCLA vs Colorado | 0:27 - 29:31

No. 8 UCLA outlasted the No. 13 Colorado Buffalos on Monday night, 53-45, in a top-15 matchup inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.

With 90 seconds to go in the game and the Bruins up three, Charisma Osborne knocked down a clutch deep 3-pointer from the wing to put the Bruins up, 49-43.

After Colorado made two foul shots, UCLA (22-5, 11-5 Pac-12) missed an opportunity on the offensive end and led 49-45 with 36 seconds remaining. The Bruins, who played stout defense all night long and held Colorado (20-7, 10-6 Pac-12) to a season-low in points (45) and shooting percentage (29%), got one final crucial stop with 30 seconds remaining when Lauren Betts knocked away and then stole an entry pass into the post, propelling the Bruins to a 53-45 win Monday night.

Kiki Rice led the Bruins with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals, while Osborne also finished in double figures with 14 points. Jaylyn Sherrod led Colorado in scoring with 10 points.

On a night when UCLA honored five seniors playing in their final regular season game inside Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins went to work in the paint early and often on Monday night. The Bruins tallied their first three baskets inside, with Camryn Brown scoring twice and Rice adding another, giving UCLA a 6-2 lead with 5 minutes and 28 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

The Bruins' defense came out of the gates strongly and forced Colorado into misses on their first eight attempts from the field. Offensively, UCLA capitalized off of their strong defensive play, with Osborne capping a 17-7 run at the end of the first quarter with a put-back layup.

UCLA finished the first quarter 8-for-12 from the field.

Colorado responded with a run of their own to begin the second quarter. The Buffalos scored eight quick points, making it a 2-point game, 17-15, before Osborne hit a deep 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to stop the Buffalos run.

Rice and Osborne hit a triple and a mid-range jumper on back-to-back possessions, extending the Bruins lead to 12, 27-15, with three minutes and thirty seconds to go in the half.

The Bruins took a 29-19 lead into the halftime break, with Rice leading the way with 11 points off of 4-for-7 shooting from the field, three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

Quay Miller got off to a strong start to the second half for Colorado, scoring seven straight points, cutting UCLA's lead to three, 29-26.

The Buffs continued their hot stretch, forcing the Bruins into seven early turnovers in the third quarter, and took a 32-31 lead with four minutes and sixteen seconds to go in the third.

Londynn Jones, who hit a career-high seven 3-pointers in Thursday's win over No. 18 Utah, hit a crucial three for the Bruins to stop the Buffs run, and UCLA held a 34-32 advantage with two minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the third quarter.

UCLA closed the quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 40-35 lead into the final quarter of action, with Osborne adding a layup in the final seconds to continue the momentum for the Bruins.

Gabriela Jaquez and Betts both added baskets to continue UCLA's run, expanding the gap to nine, 44-35 with eight minute sand forty nine seconds remaining.

Colorado responded by scoring three of the next four baskets and added two more free throws, cutting the deficit to three, 46-43, with five minutes and twenty two seconds left.

Osborne then hit a clutch triple with a minute and a half to go and the Bruins held on to earn the 53-45 win on senior night.

UP NEXT: UCLA returns to action on Thursday night at Arizona State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.