UCLA Bruins Advance to First Final Four As 1978 with Victory Over LSU
SPOKANE, Wash. — Lauren Betts scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, leading top-seeded UCLA to a 72-65 victory over LSU in the NCAA tournament on Sunday. This win propels the Bruins to their first Final Four appearance in the women’s tournament since 1978.
Bruins Overcome LSU Challenge, Await Southern California or UConn
UCLA (34-2) will face the winner of monday’s game between Southern California and UConn in the Final Four, scheduled for Friday night in Tampa, Florida. Gabriela Jaquez contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, while Timea Gardiner added 15 points for the Bruins, stepping up when Betts was sidelined in the second quarter due to foul trouble.
“Credit to my teammates for holding it down while I was out,” Betts acknowledged during the post-game trophy ceremony.
Betts’ Dominance and Team Depth Key to Victory
Betts, the Bruins’ 6-foot-7 center, also recorded six blocks, showcasing her defensive presence. Despite her limited playing time in the first half, UCLA maintained it’s composure and extended their lead in the second half. The Bruins shot 52% from the field.
UCLA’s victory marks their first NCAA regional final win in three attempts. Although they secured a national title in 1978, it was before the NCAA officially sanctioned women’s basketball.
LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson Shines in defeat
Flau’Jae Johnson led third-seeded LSU (31-6) with 28 points. The defending champion Tigers,coached by Kim Mulkey,were eliminated in the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. Senior forward Aneesah Morrow, despite suffering a bloody nose in a collision, returned to the game and finished with 15 points.
Key Moments Define the Game
LSU narrowed the gap to 46-41 early in the fourth quarter, but a layup by Betts extended UCLA’s lead to 56-45 with 6:54 remaining. Johnson’s layup brought the Tigers within four points, igniting the crowd. Though, Gabriela Jaquez’s timely 3-pointer with 1:30 left essentially secured the Bruins’ victory, avenging their loss to LSU in last year’s Sweet 16.
“We talk about if Lauren kicks it out, you’ve got to be a ready shooter,” Jaquez said. “I’ve just got to stay ready at all times. And I knew that was the right shot I needed to take and I have confidence in myself when shooting. I put in the work.”
Mulkey Acknowledges UCLA’s Perimeter Game
Mulkey conceded that UCLA’s supporting cast made the difference. “Betts did not beat us,” Mulkey said. “We guarded her as tough as we could. We did not take advantage of her being off the floor in the second quarter, and we allowed perimeter 3s and other people to step up.”
Bruins’ Strong Start and Resilient Performance Secure Win
UCLA initiated the game with intensity, even though LSU briefly held a 13-9 advantage early in the second quarter. A 6-0 bruins run, highlighted by Gardiner’s 3-pointer, propelled them to a 23-17 lead. UCLA maintained a 31-25 lead at halftime,demonstrating their ability to perform effectively even with Betts on the bench.
“I have full confidence in them,” Betts said of her teammates. “Obviously I’m more mad at myself that I had two fouls. But this is what we’re talking about when we say we have a deep team. I don’t have to be in the game at all times. I have a team full of players that are just amazing and talented in their own right, and put in the work.”
At one point, with UCLA’s lead shrinking, coach Cori Close urged her team to “Execute!”
LSU’s Shooting Woes
Mulkey noted LSU outrebounded UCLA (43-38), but the Bruins had more free throw opportunities, going to the line 20 times compared to the Tigers’ 10. Ultimately, Mulkey attributed the loss to missed shots.”Would have to go back and look at the shots we missed. Just wide-open shots,” Mulkey said.
How did Gabriela Jaquez prepare for and execute the crucial 3-pointer that helped seal UCLA’s victory, according too her own statement?
UCLA Bruins Advance to First Final four Since 1978 with Victory Over LSU
SPOKANE, Wash. — Lauren Betts scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, leading top-seeded UCLA to a 72-65 victory over LSU in the NCAA tournament on sunday. This win propels the Bruins to their first final Four appearance in the women’s tournament as 1978.
Bruins Overcome LSU Challenge, Await Southern California or UConn
UCLA (34-2) will face the winner of monday’s game between Southern California and UConn in the Final Four, scheduled for Friday night in Tampa, Florida. Gabriela jaquez contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, while Timea Gardiner added 15 points for the Bruins, stepping up when Betts was sidelined in the second quarter due to foul trouble.
“Credit to my teammates for holding it down while I was out,” Betts acknowledged during the post-game trophy ceremony.
Betts’ dominance and Team Depth Key to Victory
Betts, the Bruins’ 6-foot-7 center, also recorded six blocks, showcasing her defensive presence. Despite her limited playing time in the first half, UCLA maintained it’s composure and extended their led in the second half.The Bruins shot 52% from the field.
UCLA’s victory marks their first NCAA regional final win in three attempts. Even though they secured a national title in 1978, it was before the NCAA officially sanctioned women’s basketball.
LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson Shines in defeat
Flau’Jae Johnson led third-seeded LSU (31-6) with 28 points.The defending champion Tigers,coached by Kim Mulkey,were eliminated in the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. Senior forward Aneesah Morrow, despite suffering a bloody nose in a collision, returned to the game and finished with 15 points.
Key Moments Define the Game
LSU narrowed the gap to 46-41 early in the fourth quarter,but a layup by Betts extended UCLA’s lead to 56-45 with 6:54 remaining. johnson’s layup brought the Tigers within four points, igniting the crowd.Though, Gabriela Jaquez’s timely 3-pointer with 1:30 left essentially secured the Bruins’ victory, avenging their loss to LSU in last year’s Sweet 16.
“We talk about if Lauren kicks it out, you’ve got to be a ready shooter,” Jaquez said. “I’ve just got to stay ready at all times. And I knew that was the right shot I needed to take and I have confidence in myself when shooting.I put in the work.”
Mulkey Acknowledges UCLA’s Perimeter Game
Mulkey conceded that UCLA’s supporting cast made the difference. “Betts did not beat us,” Mulkey said. ”We guarded her as tough as we could. We did not take advantage of her being off the floor in the second quarter, and we allowed perimeter 3s and other people to step up.”
Bruins’ Strong Start and Resilient performance Secure Win
UCLA initiated the game with intensity, even though LSU briefly held a 13-9 advantage early in the second quarter. A 6-0 bruins run, highlighted by Gardiner’s 3-pointer, propelled them to a 23-17 lead. UCLA maintained a 31-25 lead at halftime,demonstrating their ability to perform effectively even with Betts on the bench.
“I have full confidence in them,” Betts said of her teammates. “Obviously I’m more mad at myself that I had two fouls. But this is what we’re talking about when we say we have a deep team.I don’t have to be in the game at all times. I have a team full of players that are just amazing and talented in their own right, and put in the work.”
At one point, with UCLA’s lead shrinking, coach Cori Close urged her team to “Execute!”
LSU’s Shooting Woes
Mulkey noted LSU outrebounded UCLA (43-38), but the Bruins had more free throw opportunities, going to the line 20 times compared to the Tigers’ 10. Ultimately,Mulkey attributed the loss to missed shots.”Would have to go back and look at the shots we missed.Just wide-open shots,” mulkey said.
Q&A: UCLA’s Historic Win and what it Means
Q: When was the last time UCLA reached the Final Four?
A: Before this year, the last time was in 1978, before the NCAA officially sanctioned women’s basketball. This win marks a historic moment for the program.
Q: Who were the key players for UCLA in this game?
A: Lauren Betts led with 17 points and 7 rebounds, Gabriela Jaquez scored 18 points, and Timea Gardiner added 15 points.Betts also had a notable defensive presence with 6 blocks.
Q: What was the final score, and who did UCLA defeat?
A: UCLA defeated LSU with a final score of 72-65.
Q: What were the key factors in UCLA’s victory?
A: UCLA’s team depth, strong perimeter shooting, and resilience were crucial. Even with Betts in foul trouble, the team maintained composure and extended their lead.
Q: What did LSU’s coach, Kim Mulkey, say about the loss?
A: Mulkey acknowledged that UCLA’s supporting cast made the difference. She also attributed the loss to missed shots.
Q: What’s next for UCLA?
A: UCLA will face the winner of the southern California vs. UConn game in the Final Four, which will be held in Tampa, Florida.
Q: What is the history between UCLA and LSU?
A: UCLA avenged their loss to LSU in last year’s Sweet 16.
Q: What advice can we take from UCLA’s win?
A: Teamwork and preparation make a difference. If you want to win, be ready to shoot when your moment comes.
UCLA’s Final Four appearance is a testament to their hard work and team spirit.Let’s see if they can bring home the championship!
