SPOKANE, Wash. — In a dazzling display of skill and determination, UCLA's Lauren Betts led her team to a 76-62 victory over Mississippi in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women's basketball tournament on March 28, 2025. Betts, a 6-foot-7 center, was nearly unstoppable, scoring 31 points on an impressive 15-of-16 shooting performance, while also contributing 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. This victory marks the Bruins' first advancement to the Elite Eight since 2018, solidifying their status as a formidable force in this year’s tournament.
The top-seeded Bruins (33-2) will now prepare to face No. 3 seed LSU on Sunday, March 30, 2025, for a chance to reach the Final Four. LSU secured their spot by defeating No. 2 seed N.C. State 80-73 earlier on the same day. Betts' performance against Ole Miss was a continuation of her postseason excellence, having scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Bruins' previous game, a second-round victory over Richmond.
UCLA coach Cori Close praised Betts' impact on the game, stating, "It’s just one of those things where you have a generational player on your team. You just want to put the ball in her hands as many times as possible. That’s why she’s one of the top players in the country. That’s why she makes us better and that’s why we’re in the Elite Eight." Betts has been a dominant presence throughout the season, earning accolades such as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and averaging nearly three blocks per game.
Against Ole Miss, Betts was a force from the opening tip, scoring 16 of UCLA's 30 first-half points. The Bruins initially jumped out to a 19-10 lead after Betts' layup, but the Rebels quickly fought back, narrowing the gap to 21-19 with a jumper from KK Deans. The teams went into halftime with UCLA holding a slim 30-29 lead after Deans' fast-break layup just before the buzzer.
However, the second half saw the Bruins regain control, opening with an 8-0 run that included a three-pointer from Londynn Jones, pushing their lead to 45-33. Betts continued to assert her dominance, scoring back-to-back layups that extended UCLA's lead to double digits. By the fourth quarter, the Bruins were comfortably ahead at 63-46, and Ole Miss could not mount a comeback.
UCLA's Kiki Rice also made significant contributions, adding 13 points and seven assists, while Tameiya Sadler led the Rebels (22-10) with 14 points. Betts' performance not only helped her team secure the win but also made her the first player in the past 20 seasons to score at least 30 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 80% from the field in a game, according to ESPN.
The Bruins' journey to the Elite Eight has been marked by resilience and determination. Their only two losses this season came against JuJu Watkins and USC, but they avenged one of those defeats in the Big Ten Tournament final, defeating USC 72-67. Betts reflected on her team's success, stating, "Just being aggressive no matter what and doing what I need to do to help the team. That (stat) is insane. I’m honestly very, very grateful. The only reason it’s happening is because of the program I’m in and the people I’m surrounded by."
With the matchup against LSU looming, the Bruins are eager to prove themselves against a team that eliminated them from the tournament last year. Rice acknowledged the significance of this upcoming game, saying, "We expected to be in this position, and it’ll be a good opportunity for those of us who were on this team last year." As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Betts and the Bruins as they aim for their second national title in program history.
As the NCAA tournament continues to unfold, the excitement surrounding women’s basketball grows, with fans eager to see if UCLA can harness their momentum and continue their impressive run.
