The UCLA women’s basketball team advanced to its first NCAA championship appearance with a 51-44 victory over Texas on April 3 in Phoenix. The Bruins, holding the top seed, defeated fellow No. 1-seed Texas at Mortgage Matchup Center.
This marks the first time UCLA will play for the national title since the NCAA began hosting a women’s basketball tournament. Previously, the Bruins won the AIAW national title in 1978, which was before the current NCAA format.
Senior Lauren Betts led UCLA with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Betts played a key role late in the game with a crucial block as Texas closed within three points of UCLA’s lead in the final minute. Kiki Rice contributed 11 points and Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriela Jaquez each added ten for UCLA.
Texas was held to just under 31 percent shooting from the field, their lowest scoring output of the season. Kyla Oldacre was their only player to reach double figures with eleven points.
UCLA had lost to Texas earlier in November but has now won thirty consecutive games leading up to this championship appearance. The Bruins finished Big Ten Conference play undefeated and also secured their conference tournament title.
The Bruins will face South Carolina for the national championship on Sunday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The game is scheduled for broadcast nationally on ABC.
