SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Lauren Betts had 17 points and seven rebounds despite spending the entire second quarter on the bench, and top overall seed UCLA reached its first Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 72-65 victory over LSU on Sunday. The 6-foot-7 Betts added six blocks for the Bruins (34-2), who will face the winner of Monday’s game between Southern California and UConn. The Final Four is Friday night in Tampa, Florida.
Gabriela Jaquez had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Bruins and Timea Gardiner finished with 15 points, helping to pick up the slack when Betts went to the bench after committing two first-quarter fouls. “Credit to my teammates for holding it down while I was out,” Betts said during the trophy ceremony.
UCLA won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of women’s basketball, but this was its first NCAA regional final victory in three tries. LSU senior forward Aneesah Morrow’s nose was bloodied in a collision with teammate Sa’Myah Smith, but she checked back into her final game for the Tigers without any facial protection and finished with 15 points.
Flau’Jae Johnson scored 28 points to lead third-seeded LSU (31-6), which won the national title two years ago under coach Kim Mulkey but has now been eliminated in the last two Elite Eights. The Tigers closed within 46-41 to start the fourth quarter. Betts’ layup extended the Bruins’ lead to 56-45 with 6:54 to go. Johnson’s layup got the Tigers within 56-52 with 3:24 left, spurring an “LSU! LSU!” chant from the crowd. But the Tigers couldn’t get closer, and Jaquez made a 3-pointer with 1:30 left that all but sealed the Bruins’ win over the team that eliminated them from last year’s Sweet 16.
Betts — a matchup nightmare for any team with her towering stature and skill in the post — was coming off a 31-point, 10-rebound performance in the Sweet 16 and a 30-point, 14-rebound effort in the second round. She’s one of just three players to have multiple games with at least 30 points and 10 boards in the tournament in the last 25 seasons.
The Bruins jumped out early, but the Tigers had a 13-9 edge going into the second quarter. The Bruins went on a 6-0 run, capped by Gardiner’s 3-pointer, to take a 23-17 lead. The Bruins held their own without Betts, heading into halftime up 31-25. Gardiner had nine points in the opening half.
Betts started the second half, extending the Bruins’ lead with a layup. Londynn Jones made it 36-25 with a 3-pointer. UCLA pushed its lead to 14 points before an 8-1 LSU run that closed the gap to 44-37. At one point, UCLA coach Cori Close yelled at her team, “Execute!” Morrow was hurt with 1:22 left in the third quarter. She was helped off the court with a towel to her face and went to the locker room, but returned to start the fourth. ESPN reported during the game that Morrow’s nose was broken, but she said afterward that it wasn’t.
In their previous encounter, UCLA lost to LSU in last year’s Sweet 16, a painful reminder that fueled the Bruins’ determination this season. Betts had 14 points and 17 rebounds in that matchup, but the Bruins were outscored 14-2 in the final minutes, leading to their elimination. This year, however, the narrative shifted as Betts emerged as a dominant force, showcasing her evolution from a promising player to a cornerstone of UCLA's success.
UCLA head coach Cori Close noted the importance of learning from past mistakes and emphasized the growth of her team. “UCLA looks like a team that can win the national championship to me,” Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said, highlighting the Bruins' potential. Betts’ recent performances, including back-to-back games with over 30 points, have solidified her status as a crucial player in the tournament.
As the Bruins prepare for the Final Four, they are riding a wave of confidence, bolstered by Betts’ impressive statistics—averaging 22 points and nine rebounds while shooting an incredible 79.7% from the field in her last six games. Her transformation has not only been physical but also mental, as Betts has focused on being aggressive and maintaining a positive outlook throughout the tournament.
Despite the challenges, the Bruins have shown resilience, and the upcoming matchup in the Final Four promises to be an exciting encounter, with Betts at the forefront of UCLA's pursuit of a national title. The team’s journey has been marked by growth, determination, and the unwavering support of their fans, who have rallied behind them as they aim for glory.
With the Final Four set to take place in Tampa, Florida, all eyes will be on UCLA as they look to capitalize on their momentum and make history in this year's NCAA tournament. Will Lauren Betts lead the Bruins to victory and secure their place in the championship game? Only time will tell.
