Lauren Betts, No. 1 UCLA pull away from Minnesota to reach Elite 8 after slow start
The Bruins' hopes at a return trip to the Final Four are still standing.
Lauren Betts and UCLA are headed to the Elite Eight. (AP/Justine Willard) ASSOCIATED PRESS It wasn’t a complete dominant performance by any means, but the Bruins got the job done on Friday night. No.
1 UCLA pulled away from No. 4 Minnesota in the second half on Friday night at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The Bruins secured an 80-56 win over the Gophers in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament , which kept their hopes of a return trip to the Final Four alive.
UCLA will await either No. 2 LSU or No. 3 Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday in the Sacramento Region 2.
UCLA opened the game quickly and led the entire way, but Minnesota didn’t disappear in the first 20 minutes. The Bruins started on a 14-6 run, but the Gophers narrowed that gap to just five points by halftime after Mara Braun hit a tough, contested jumper in the final seconds. The Bruins went 0-of-6 from the 3-point line in the first half.