Ucla shuts down texas, reaches ncaa championship
LOS ANGELES – UCLA’s relentless defense and Lauren Betts’ late-game heroics proved too much for Texas Friday night, as the Bruins secured a 51-44 victory to advance to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament national championship game for the first time in program history. The win caps a remarkable season for the Bruins, who entered the Final Four with a pristine 36-1 record.
A response to the lone challenger
Having been thoroughly outmatched by eventual national champion UConn a year prior, UCLA’s journey this season has been defined by dominance. Their only blemish? A January loss to Texas, a team widely considered among the nation’s elite defensively. The rematch offered a compelling narrative: could the Bruins exact revenge, or would the Longhorns prove their earlier victory was no fluke?
For much of the game, it appeared UCLA had the answers. They methodically built a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, largely by stifling Texas star Madison Booker. Booker, an All-American, struggled mightily, finishing with a meager six points on a dismal 3-of-23 shooting performance. The Longhorns, renowned for their suffocating defense, briefly ignited a 12-2 run that narrowed the gap to a precarious 47-44.
But UCLA had an answer in Betts. With the Texas momentum threatening to overwhelm them, the center registered a crucial block on Booker’s shot with just 20 seconds remaining, effectively sealing the victory. Kiki Rice subsequently sunk two free throws, sending Cori Close’s Bruins into the championship game. The final score belies the intensity of a contest that saw two of the nation’s best teams battling for every possession.
Sunday’s championship game pits UCLA against South Carolina, the three-time defending national champions who earlier ended UConn’s undefeated season in a stunning upset. Geno Auriemma’s frustration was palpable after the Huskies’ loss, a sentiment likely echoed by Texas coach Vic Schaefer after witnessing his team’s offensive struggles against UCLA’s tenacious defense. The stage is now set for a championship showdown that promises to be a clash of titans.