Pauley Pavilion saw a top-5 upset Tuesday when UCLA men’s basketball sank No. 4 Purdue.

Come Wednesday, the tables will be reversed, as a different squad of Bruins attempt to fend off an unranked Boilermaker squad.

No. 3 UCLA women’s basketball (17-1, 7-0 Big Ten) will face Purdue (10-8, 2-5) at Pauley Pavilion after defeating then-No. 12 Maryland 97-67 at home Sunday.

“In this program we’re kind of built and our foundation is on effort plays and getting the extra possession,” graduate student Gianna Kneepkens said. “Because when you know two great teams are competing it’s those plays that make you take that lead.”

The Bruins opened the game against Maryland with a basket on their first possession. Continuing with a 7-0 run in the first quarter, the Bruins held the Terrapin scoreless for more than two minutes, and led 25-17 at the end of the inaugural frame.

Graduate student guard Charlisse Leger-Walker paved the way for UCLA in the first quarter with seven points, four rebounds and one assist, and senior guard Gabriela Jaquez added six points to the Bruins’ lead.

UCLA pushed its lead to 20 points midway through the third quarter thanks to the offensive efficiency of Leger-Walker and Jaquez. The two players ended the game shooting 50% and 77% from the field, respectively. The advantage grew to 30 points early in the fourth quarter as UCLA neared 100 points.

Jaquez finished the game with 22 points, four rebounds and three assists while Leger-Walker recorded 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, reaching 500 career assists.

“Me and Gabs (Jaquez) have a really great connection,” Leger-Walker said. “She’s such an amazing offball cutter. … And so when I’m in there and playing off two feet, I just saw her cut from the weak side corner, and we kind of had a split second when we made eye contact.”

UCLA now turns its attention to Purdue, a program it has faced just five times since 2003.

The Bruins hold a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series. UCLA is 2-0 against Purdue in home games, 1-2 in road contests and 1-0 in conference matchups.

Their most recent meeting occurred last January, when UCLA defeated Purdue 83-49 on the road. That game marked UCLA’s second consecutive win in the series. UCLA has averaged 71 points per game across the five games it has played against Purdue.

Aside from the two program’s matchup history, famous UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden called Purdue his alma mater.

“You all know how much coach Wooden changed my life and to have a chance for the throwback and to honor his connection to Purdue. … I think it’s going to be a special time,” said coach Cori Close.

The Boilermaker’s 2025-2026 roster is headlined by guard Tara Daye, who posts a team-high 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Bruins comparatively boast four players who average more than 13 points and five who post more than four rebounds per contest.

Purdue earned its first ranked win this season Jan. 11, when it beat then-No. 23 Washington 78-72 in overtime. The Boilermakers had averaged 33-point deficits to top-25 teams prior to that victory.

The Bruins, on the other hand, are on an 11-game win streak, and their 30-point victory against the Terrapins was the program’s largest win margin over a top-15 team since 1992.

The game against Purdue is UCLA’s eighth meeting against a Big Ten opponent this season. UCLA will look to maintain its record in league games as conference play continues.

“I encourage the LA area – don’t miss out on seeing great basketball night in and night out,” Close said. “Big Ten women’s basketball is the number one conference in the country top-to-bottom, and I hope people will understand how special this is and come out and support.”