CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman guard Jessica Arnold heads for the basket after sliding past an ASU player during their Jan. 26 56-49 victory.

The Arizona women's basketball team faces off in one of its most critical games of the season when they take on UCLA today at 7 p.m. in McKale Center.

Arizona (15-8, 7-5 Pacific 10 Conference) sits fifth in the Pac-10. The Bruins are third with a 15-7 mark overall and a 9-4 conference record.

"The big thing is we control our own destiny," said UA head coach Joan Bonvicini. "We need to really come with great intensity and take care of business here."

The Wildcats suffered their third consecutive loss Saturday, as they fell to California on the road, 70-61. Arizona was held to a season-low 29 percent from the field and brought down only 40 rebounds to the Bears' 58.

Senior point guard Dee-Dee Wheeler paced the Wildcats with 21 points, nine steals and eight rebounds, while freshman guard Ashley Whisonant finished the night with 15 points.

CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Shawntinice Polk towers over a group of Maryland defenders for a shot during Arizona's 84-77 loss to No. 20 Maryland, Saturday, Jan. 29, in McKale Center.

"They got a lot of rebounds from us shooting only 29 percent and not taking good shots," Whisonant said. "We just got to box out and go after the rebound. I don't understand how we got out-rebounded, actually."

UCLA defeated Washington State, 68-63, Sunday, despite being out-rebounded 50 to 38 by the Cougars. The Bruins were led by reigning Pac-10 Player of the Week Nikki Blue, who recorded 22 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.

"They've got a great backcourt," Bonvicini said. "Nikki Blue is one of the finest guards in the country. She can break you down and (has) great quickness and (is) great inside or out. I think the thing she's improved at is she's really developed into being a better distributor."

UCLA junior guard Lisa Willis notched her third double-double of the year against WSU with 16 points and 10 boards, in addition to six steals and four assists.

While the Wildcats are aware of the Bruins' strength from the perimeter, they feel they might have an advantage in the post.

"UCLA has a very dominant guard game," said senior guard Katrina Lindner. "I think maybe we have an advantage with Polkey in the post and with Danielle (Adefeso). Basically, they just have a great group of guards that are very athletic."

"UCLA and Arizona are kind of similar," Whisonant said. "Both have quick guards like Dee-Dee (Wheeler) and Nikki Blue. We both try to run a transition, a fast-tempo game. They do have shooters that can shoot from anywhere."

UCLA continues to be without the services of Noelle Quinn, who injured her knee when Arizona defeated the Bruins 84-73 on Jan. 16. Quinn was averaging almost 17 points per game.

"We played great," Bonvicini said of the win at Pauley Pavilion. "We played hard. We played intense. We rebounded well. And the scoring was really spread around."

Arizona has suffered its share of injuries on the season. Sophomore forward-center Shannon Hobson is recovering from a left knee injury and will play against the Bruins but not start.

Freshman guard Jessica Arnold re-injured her left shoulder in the Wildcats' 84-77 loss to Maryland on Jan. 29. Arnold will continue to play through the injury and undergo surgery in the offseason. Over the last six games, the Tucson native was shooting 46 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line.

Junior center Shawntinice Polk has been limited offensively by a nagging knee injury, as she was held to eight points against California.