UCLA started off the 4th quarter with a 31-28 lead, in what had been a very physical, defensive struggle. I will say while I like letting the players play, it felt like there was a lot being not called in both semi-final matchups.
The Bruins started the quarter fired up. Lauren Betts got fouled and extended the lead to 5, Kiki Rice hit a three-pointer from the win to extend the lead to 8, and Gabriela Jaquez got a layup in the lane to make it a 10 point game on the 7-0 run to start the quarter. With 4 1/2 to play, Gianna Kneepkens hit a deep three-pointer, and it looked like UCLA was comfortably ahead with a 13 point lead.
But we all know there is no comfortable lead in March. Texas’ Jordan Lee made a layup, Aaliyah Crump stole the ball and passed the ball to Lee in the corner for a three-pointer, and the lead was 8.
Lauren Betts would hit a shot in the lane to make it a double digit lead again, but Kyla Oldacre would get fouled and make a free throw, Madison Booker would hit a shot in the lane, and Kyla Oldacre would get open in the lane for a layup, and with 1:45 to play, the lead was down to 5.
Meanwhile, UCLA is having fits just getting the ball in. They probably should have been called for a five-second violation at one point, but the referees kept awarding time-outs right before the violation took place. UCLA tried to drain some clock, but at the end of the possession, Rori Harmon stole the ball, got the ball to Jordan Lee, and her layup cut the lead to 3 with a minute to play.
After needing another time-out to get the ball in, UCLA drained the clock down to 30 seconds, but the Bruins’ Angela Dugalic missed the jumper and Texas’ Madison Booker got the rebound – the Longhorns had the ball and a chance to tie the game.
Booker had been the leading scorer for Texas all year, but had struggled today, and the next play summed up her evening. The star drove the lane, went up for a layup, and UCLA’s star Lauren Betts blocked the shot, and blocked it in a way that she could also recover the rebound.
Texas would foul to try to stop the clock, and eventually Kiki Rice went to the line, and she calmly drained both free throws to make it a 5 point lead with 13 seconds to play. UCLA would play great defense and for Kyla Oldacre into a two-point jumper that missed, and UCLA iced the game from the line.
Congratulations to the UCLA Bruins – I believe that this is their first ever women’s national championship game!!!!! So, we will see UCLA take on South Carolina for the National Championship on Sunday – good luck to both teams!!!