UCLA opens its NCAA title bid by dominating | College News
The adage goes, it doesn’t have to be fairly. But for the UCLA girls’s basketball group, that’s not the philosophy. Coach Cori Close preaches thriving, not surviving, and that’s been evident in the Bruins’ lopsided victory margin all season.
That’s why main by 10 factors at halftime against a No. 16 seed was probably alarming. So a lot so that UCLA locked in for a 31-4 third quarter in one of its most dominant intervals all season en route to a first-round NCAA event win.
UCLA (32-1) took down California Baptist 96-43 at Pauley Pavilion, advancing to Monday’s second-round contest against No. 8 seed Oklahoma State (24-9) for a spot in the Sweet 16.
Lauren Betts earned a double-double with 22 factors with 10 rebounds, while her sister, Sienna Betts, had her first profession double-double with 10 factors and 11 rebounds.
UCLA middle Lauren Betts drives against California Baptist ahead Grace Schmidt in the first half Saturday.
(Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)
It was the Bruins’ twenty sixth consecutive win, with the group’s most current loss in November against fellow No. 1 seed Texas.
California Baptist (23-11) had the eighth-worst NET ranking of any NCAA event group, but the Lancers have a couple of areas where they excel. It was not enough to beat a No. 1 seed that just needed some time to shake off the rust, but it was enough to fend off a more lopsided rating other No. 16 seeds endured across the nation.
A No. 16 seed has not upset a No. 1 seed in the ladies’s NCAA event since 1998.
The Bruins took the lead with 3:51 left in the first quarter as a half of a 10-0 run after beginning the sport one for 5. While the Lancers clawed back to within 5 factors, the hole only widened from there.
UCLA’s measurement overwhelmed California Baptist, whose tallest participant is 6-foot-3 Emma Johansson. Johansson, who entered Saturday second in the nation with 2.86 blocks per sport, picked up just one block and one rebound with 4 fouls. The Bruins’ 62-21 rebounding benefit got here from the numerous peak hole across all positions. UCLA also nabbed a season-high 21 offensive boards.
The Bruins completed with 54 factors in the paint to the Lancers’ 14, along with 30 second-chance factors in contrast to California Baptist’s eight.
The Lancers rely closely on their three-point shot, with the eighth-most in the NCAA at 28.3 makes an attempt per sport. They went six for 30 (20%) from deep on Saturday, which stored the deficit from getting out of hand early, but the Lancers couldn’t keep their early strong capturing tempo.
UCLA began the third quarter on a 15-0 run. The Lancers didn’t rating until the 7:20 mark in the third quarter. The Bruins shot 10 of 16 from the sector and their 31 factors have been tied for their second most in a quarter this season.
Chance Bucher led the Lancers with 11 factors, but California Baptist’s 25% from the sector was the bottom field-goal share UCLA has allowed all 12 months.
Now UCLA’s focus shifts to its next matchup.
The Bruins are 1-1 all-time against Oklahoma State, which beat No. 9 seed Princeton 82-68 earlier Saturday at Pauley Pavilion. Tipoff for UCLA’s sport Monday is set for 7 p.m.
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