UCLA women's basketball beats Texas, will face South Carolina in national title game
The UCLA women's basketball team is heading to the national championship game against South Carolina after beating Texas in the semifinal.
UCLA will face South Carolina in the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game after Lauren Betts led the way in the Bruins' semifinal win over Texas Friday night in Phoenix. Betts recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in UCLA's 51-44 Final Four victory over the Longhorns. UCLA fended off a late surge by Texas in the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns are one of the nation's best defensive teams and flexed their D during a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44. However, Betts came up with a big block on fellow All-American Madison Booker with 20 seconds left to stop the Longhorns' momentum. "When that play happened, I really have so much confidence that every time she is in a matchup, she's going to find a way to alter, block, scare somebody from doing that," UCLA coach Cori Close said.
"I just think she's spectacular. " UCLA's Kiki Rice added 11 points and 5 rebounds, while Gabriela Jacquez and Gianna Kneepkens each scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. It is the first time the UCLA women have reached the NCAA national championship game.
UCLA will now prepare for a Sunday showdown against South Carolina, the three-time national champions who ended reigning champion UConn's undefeated season and left Huskies' coach Geno Auriemma fuming. Sunday's national championship game between UCLA and South Carolina will air on ABC7 at 12:30 p. m.