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What to know about No. 3 Colorado’s historic matchup with No. 5 UCLA

This year’s Colorado women’s basketball team is no stranger to playing well in big games. Through 16 contests, the No. 3 Buffs (15-1, 5-0 Pac-12) have beaten three ranked opponents — LSU, Utah and Stanford — and are now looking to down No. 5 UCLA on Friday.

The Bruins (14-1, 3-1) dropped their first game of the season on Sunday to new-No. 6 USC, but remain one of the conference’s deepest and most talented teams. UCLA, like the Buffs, reached the Sweet 16 last season before falling to South Carolina.

Tipoff between Colorado and UCLA is set for 6 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Network) at the CU Events Center in Boulder.

Here’s what else you should know about Colorado’s huge Friday night matchup against the Bruins:

First-ever top-five matchup in CU women's hoops history

Pac-12 standings

Three John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List players

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Friday’s battle features three players who were named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List: UCLA sophomore center and Colorado native Lauren Betts, Bruins sophomore guard Kiki Rice and CU senior point guard Jaylyn Sherrod.

The award is given annually to the best player in college women’s basketball.

UCLA player who isn't being talked about enough: Londynn Jones

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jones, a 5-foot-4 sophomore guard, ranks third on her team with 13.3 points per game and second in 3-point shooting (38.7%). Her ability to make shots from anywhere on the court should challenge Colorado.

Colorado player who isn't being talked about enough: Quay Miller

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Jaylyn Sherrod and Aaronette Vonleh have garnered most of the attention this season for Colorado, but senior forward Quay Miller is quietly having another impressive year. She’ll enter Friday looking for her fourth straight double-double.

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READ: How to buy tickets for No. 3 Colorado vs. No. 5 UCLA

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Story originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire