- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,152,448
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
UCLA center Lauren Betts reacts during the Bruins' 51-44 win over Texas in the Final Four of the NCAA women's basketball tournament on Friday night. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
For the first time, the UCLA women’s basketball team is playing on the final day of the season.
In a grueling defensive slugfest with fellow No. 1-seed Texas, the Bruins won 51-44 to advance to Sunday’s national championship game against South Carolina. UCLA didn’t trail after the opening basket but didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter, stymied by a season-high 23 turnovers that let Texas hang around.
Lauren Betts, who finished with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double, blocked a last layup attempt from Madison Booker with 20 seconds left to get the ball back while up three points and evaded Texas’ fourth-quarter comeback effort after the Longhorns went on a 12-2 run.
Read more:Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley get into confrontation after South Carolina stuns UConn
No team scored 40 until UCLA (36-1) finally reached the mark with 7:56 left. Both teams had season lows for points.
And yet, the Bruins found somewhat of a rhythm early in the fourth quarter to open a double-digit lead and continued to hold the Longhorns (35-4) to a season-low 31% from the field.
For all the attention around the Longhorns’ defense in this tournament, it was UCLA’s that carried Friday’s semifinal as it dictated the pace by not letting the Longhorns run.
The Bruins held Booker, the Longhorns’ top offensive weapon, to six points on three-for-23 shooting.
Texas was the only team to knock off UCLA this season, back on Nov. 26 during a game in which Betts was injured midway through the contest.
You must be registered for see images attach
UCLA forward Angela Dugalic celebrates after making a three-pointer in the first quarter Friday against Texas in the Final Four. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
UCLA went on a 14-2 first-quarter run to go ahead by 10 and force a Texas timeout with two minutes left. The Longhorns went one for eight during that stretch and their six total points were their lowest in a quarter all season.
But the Bruins committed four consecutive turnovers to let Texas narrow the deficit even as the Longhorns struggled to make baskets. UCLA concluded the half one for seven and went into halftime up 20-17. Neither team scored in the last 2:30 of the second quarter.
The 37 combined points were the second-fewest in a half in Final Four history. Texas, which is fifth in the nation in offensive efficiency, shot just 25% during the first half.
The scoring didn’t pick up in the second half, either; both teams combined for 22 points in the third quarter and UCLA took an eight-point lead.
But then, Justice Carlton was fouled as she scored a layup and hit a free throw with 53 seconds left in the quarter to get back to a one-possession contest and another layup to pull within one. The Bruins led 31-28 at the end of three.
UCLA went up by 10 following a Kiki Rice three-pointer and a Gabriela Jaquez fast-break layup, then Gianna Kneepkens hit a three-pointer with five minutes to give the Bruins their largest lead at 13 points.
You must be registered for see images attach
UCLA players (from left) Kiki Rice, Angela Dugalic and Lauren Betts react in the final seconds of the Bruins' win over Texas on Friday. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Texas got back within three with just under one minute left, and after an Angela Dugalic miss, Texas had a chance for the final shot of regulation, but Betts delivered a clutch block and UCLA gained possession.
Texas has succeeded this tournament with a lockdown defensive effort, but its shooting has gotten better throughout, led by Rori Harmon and Booker. UCLA didn’t let either of the players get room to put up comfortable shots.
South Carolina (36-3) took down previously-undefeated UConn 62-48 earlier Friday to advance to Sunday’s championship, where the Gamecocks will face UCLA for the first time this season.
You must be registered for see images attach
UCLA fans celebrate the Bruins' win over Texas in the Final Four on Friday night. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Sign up for UCLA Unlocked for big game takeaways, recruiting buzz and more UCLA sports insights.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Continue reading...
