Story by
UCLA women return to Final Four with comeback victory over Duke: Highlights
- Story by
- UCLA women return to Final Four with comeback victory over Duke: Highlights
SACRAMENTO, CA — The first half of the Elite Eight matchup between No. 1 UCLA and No. 3 Duke belonged to the Blue Devils, but the second half was all Bruins.
UCLA trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, before using a big second half to defeat the Blue Devils 70-58 on Sunday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The Bruins outscored Duke 39-19 in the second half to end with a 12-point lead to punch their ticket to Final Four for the second consecutive season.
Advertisement
"The maturity of this team is what gets us to this point," said Betts, who finished with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds. "We could have gone into that locker room and just kept our head down and gotten mad at each other and been pissed off, but we want to win this game at the end of the day."
Angela Dugalic added 15 points in the win. USA TODAY Sports provided live updates and highlights from the Elite Eight matchup between UCLA and Duke. Catch up here:
Kara Lawson furious on sidelines
Duke head coach Kara Lawson is fired up on the sidelines. Lawson was furious with referees for allowing UCLA to delay the game in the fourth quarter. UCLA's Angela Dugalic tied her shoes after an out-of-bounds call, which prevented Duke from inbounding the ball as the Bruins' staff looked at a replay review. UCLA decided to appeal the call and it was reversed, granting UCLA possession to Lawson's dismay.
Advertisement
End of Q3: UCLA 51, Duke 47
UCLA closed the third quarter on a 11-2 run to take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Bruins outscored Duke 20-8 in the frame. Lauren Betts has 14 points and seven rebounds for UCLA. Taina Mair has a game-high 16 points for Duke.
UCLA takes lead on Gianna Kneepkens 3-pointer
UCLA has its first lead of the game since the first quarter. Gianna Kneepkens knocked down a 3-pointer to take a 47-45 lead over Duke with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter. Kneepkens started the game 0-of-2 from the 3-point line before getting a 3-pointer to fall. The go-ahead shot followed a steal from Angela Dugalic and sent Golden 1 Center into a frenzy.
Advertisement
Gabriela Jaquez knocks down 3-pointer
UCLA came out with a different level of intensity in the third quarter. Gabriela Jaquez was an instant spark plug, getting a layup and hitting the first 3-pointer of the game in the Bruins' first two possessions out of halftime. UCLA has outscored Duke 9-6 in the frame and are within five points with 4:35 remaining, 45-40.
Taina Mair closing in on assist record
Duke's Taina Mair has three assists in the first half and needs four more to stand alone as Duke's all-time single-season assists leader. The senior guard would surpass four-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray , who is at the game. Asked about the record on March 27, while she was watching Duke's Sweet 16 game against LSU, Gray said: "I love it. I just sent it out that T (Taina) is a dog. I love her game." Mair has 198 assists this season. Gray had 201 in 2011-12. − Dylan Clearfield
Advertisement
Inside game reigns supreme in first half
UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez broke a scoring drought from beyond the arc with her 3-pointer in the first minute of the third quarter. Neither Duke nor UCLA hit a 3-pointer in the first half, with both teams going 0-for-4 . The Bruins are top-10 in the country in 3-point percentage at a staggering 37.2% team average, but the open looks from deep haven't been there today. − Jack Little
Unfamiliar territory for UCLA
The lone loss in UCLA's 34-1 record came in November against Texas, which was the only other time they've trailed at the half this season. Will the Bruins be able to overcome this 39-31 deficit in the second half? − Jack Little
Advertisement
Halftime: Duke 39, UCLA 31
Duke led by as many as 10 points in the first half and have an eight-point lead heading into the locker room.
Taina Mair has a game-high 12 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Riley Nelson added 11 points, while Toby Fournier has eight points after being limited to 10 minutes in the first half with two fouls.
No UCLA player has reached double digits. Lauren Betts has eight points, shooting 3-of-6 from the field. Angela Dugalic added six points from the bench.
The Bruins have struggled to get the ball to Betts under the basket as Duke has frequently deployed double, even triple teams. It has resulted in an unusually high amount of turnovers for the Bruins. UCLA is up to 12 turnovers on the half, only six shy of their season-high.
Advertisement
Duke has capitalized and scored 16 points off the turnovers.
Both teams are struggling behind the 3-point line. UCLA and Duke are both 0-of-4 from the 3-point line.
UCLA turnovers piling up vs. Duke
Duke has forced UCLA into 10 turnovers and scored 12 points off the Burins' mistakes with 4:49 remaining in the first half. Each of UCLA's starters has at least one turnover, including two a piece for Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez. The Bruins' season-high is 18 turnovers in UCLA's lone loss on the season to Texas on Nov. 26. Duke leads 29-23.
End of Q1: Duke 21, UCLA 17
Duke led by as many as eight points and has a 21-17 lead heading into the second quarter, thanks to a strong first quarter from Taina Mair. The guard has eight points for Duke, while Riley Nelson added seven points.
Advertisement
UCLA struggled to find its offensive rhythm to start, but settled in and closed the first quarter on a 6-2 run to come within five points. The team shot started 7-of-13 from the field and 0-of-1 from the 3-point line. Lauren Betts leads UCLA with six points.
Duke flips the first-quarter script vs UCLA
Less than halfway through the first quarter of Duke's Elite Eight bout with UCLA, the Blue Devils have already surpassed their opening period total from the last matchup with the Bruins. Duke scored seven points in November's meeting between these teams, trailing 30-7 at the end of the first quarter. At the first TV timeout today, Duke leads 12-7. − Jack Little
Gabriela Jaquez hits 700 career rebounds
Gabriela Jaquez has been a force on both ends of the floor during her career at UCLA. She picked up her 700th rebound in the first minute vs Duke in the Elite Eight. Jaquez is looking to make it back to the Final Four for the second straight year with a win over the Blue Devils. − Jack Little
Advertisement
Lauren Betts could spell trouble for Duke
UCLA routed Duke 89-59 in Las Vegas in their meeting earlier this season, but UCLA star forward Lauren Betts was notably absent from that contest after injuring her left arm in the Bruins' loss to Texas.
Duke already struggled with this UCLA team without Betts, how will they handle the Bruins with their primary post scorer in the lineup? − Jack Little
Women's Elite 8 schedule
Sunday, March 29
-
(1) UCLA vs. (3) Duke, 3 p.m. | ABC
Monday, March 30
-
(1) Texas vs. (2) Michigan, 7 p.m. | ESPN
-
(1) South Carolina vs. (3) TCU, 9 p.m. | ESPN
What time is UCLA vs. Duke women's Elite Eight game?
-
Date:Sunday, March 29
-
Time:3 p.m. ET
-
Location:Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California
The UCLA Bruins play the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the Women's NCAA Tournament at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 29 in Sacramento, California.
Advertisement
UCLA vs. Duke: TV, streaming
-
TV: ABC
-
Stream: ESPN Unlimited
Duke Blue Devils ' starting lineups
Here's the starting five for the No. 3-seed Duke Blue Devils :
-
Ashlon Jackson| G -senior
-
Riley Nelson| G- redshirt sophomore
-
Delaney Thomas| F -junior
-
Taina Mair| G -senior
-
Toby Fournier| F -sophomore
UCLA Bruins' starting lineup
Here's the starting five for the No. 1-seed UCLA Bruins:
-
1 Kiki Rice | G 5-11 - Senior
-
5 Charlisse Leger-Walker | G 5-10 - Senior
-
8 Gianna Kneepkens | G 6-0 - Senior
-
11 Gabriela Jaquez | G 6-0 - Senior
-
51 Lauren Betts | C 6-7 - Senior
UCLA women's basketball coach
Cori Close was named the head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team on April 21, 2011.
Wholesome moment during the National Anthem
UCLA and Duke fans banded together to sing the national anthem following technical difficulties with the anthem singer's microphone inside Golden 1 Center. The Blue Devils and the Bruins are just moments away from tipping off. − Jack Little
Chelsea Gray in the building
Chelsea Gray, the four-time WNBA champion and former Duke star, is in attendance once again as the Blue Devils take on top seed UCLA in the Elite Eight. Gray was also in the stands, as well as the postgame locker room celebration, on Mar. 27 for the Sweet 16 win over No. 2 LSU. Duke players have lauded Gray's dedication to being present this season around the program, as well as her words of encouragement. − Dylan Clearfield
Advertisement
Ashlon Jackson got message from Kevin Durant after game-winner
Everyone watches women's sports, including Kevin Durant. After Ashlon Jackson knocked down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send No. 3 Duke to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season, her phone exploded with hundreds, maybe thousands, of messages, she said.
"I put my phone on Do Not Disturb last night," Jackson said on Saturday, twelve hours removed from her 3-pointer that ended No. 2 LSU's season . "I try to respond to as many people as I can because I'm very grateful that they're even watching women's basketball... but I haven't been able to get back that much."
Jackson revealed that one message was from Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant on Instagram, one of her favorite players. Read Cydney Henderson's full story here .
Advertisement
Duke celebrates Sweet 16 win with alum Chelsea Gray
Following Duke's buzzer-beating win over LSU, Duke head coach Kara Lawson ran into the stands and jumped the rail to embrace Blue Devil alum Chelsea Gray. "I think I climbed... but I'll take jump," Lawson joked.
"I mean Chelsea obviously is our most decorated alum when you look at what she's done at the professional level. Such a great supporter," said Lawson, who coaches the Las Vegas Aces superstar on the U.S. women's national team. "We have a great relationship and she flew in here for this game to support us. ... You want to share that with the people that have been there for you. Read Cydney Henderson's full story here.
Meet UCLA women's basketball's book club
The UCLA women's basketball locker room felt calm the day before their Friday Sweet 16 matchup against Minnesota. Shoes were unlaced, bags half-zipped, and, rather than players buried in their phones, teammates sat together, pages turning.
Advertisement
What started as a small habit has grown into something bigger: UCLA's unofficial book club, a group that traces back to five Bruins. The club didn't start as a teamwide phenomenon.
"Last year's team would always call us out for being nerds, because whenever we weren't on our phones, we'd just be reading books," said guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, one of the original five. Read Erin Kirby's full story.
Duke coach Kara Lawson passes on lessons learned from Tennessee legend Pat Summitt
Days after the Duke women's basketball team lost in the Elite Eight last year, Blue Devils coach Kara Lawson called guard Taina Mair into her office with a clear goal in mind.
Advertisement
Lawson aimed to push Mair outside of her comfort zone, wanting the typically-guarded player to become a more vocal leader.
"She was like, 'I need to hear you in my dreams,'" Mair said. "'I need to have nightmares about your voice.'"
The conversation was like one Lawson's college coach and mentor, late Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, might have had with her. Read Olivia Sayer's full story here.
Elite 8 preview: Duke vs. UCLA
UCLA and Duke will meet for the second time this season in the Elite 8 of the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC) in Sacramento, California.
Advertisement
The No. 1 Bruins are the top seeded team in the Sacramento 2 regional and have advanced to the second weekend of March Madness for the fourth consecutive season under head coach Cori Close. UCLA is eyeing what would be its second straight Final Four appearance.
The Bruins — who lost just one regular season game and comfortably won the Big Ten title — advanced to the regional final by defeating Minnesota on Friday. UCLA is anchored by 6-foot-7 senior center Lauren Betts, who averages 17.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
No. 3 Duke is in the Elite 8 for the second straight season under coach Kara Lawson. After starting the season 3-6, Duke broke off a 17-game winning streak and went on to win the ACC's regular season and tournament titles. The Blue Devils advanced to the regional final by upsetting No. 2 LSU on Friday night thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Ashlon Jackson. Sophomore forward Toby Fournier leads Duke with 17.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
UCLA women's basketball roster
| # |
NAME |
POS |
EXP |
HT |
HOMETOWN |
| 1 |
G |
Sr. |
5' 11" |
Bethesda, MD |
|
| 3 |
G |
Fr. |
5' 11" |
Stockholm |
|
| 5 |
G |
Sr. |
5' 10" |
Waikato |
|
| 8 |
G |
Sr. |
6' 0" |
Duluth, MN |
|
| 9 |
G/F |
Fr. |
6' 3" |
Zagreb |
|
| 11 |
G |
Sr. |
6' 0" |
Camarillo, CA |
|
| 16 |
F |
Fr. |
6' 4" |
Centennial, CO |
|
| 30 |
F |
Sr. |
6' 3" |
Ogden, UT |
|
| 32 |
F |
Sr. |
6' 4" |
Des Plaines, IL |
|
| 33 |
F |
Soph. |
6' 4" |
Brentwood, CA |
|
| 43 |
G/F |
Sr. |
5' 10" |
San Bruno, CA |
|
| 51 |
C |
Sr. |
6' 7" |
Centennial, CO |
Lauren Betts stats
UCLA center Lauren Betts is averaging 17.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 blocks in 34 games (all starts) this season. Betts recorded a career-high 35 points in UCLA's second-round win over No. 8 Oklahoma State, in addition to nine rebounds and five assists in the win.
Advertisement
Duke women's basketball roster
| # |
NAME |
POS |
EXP |
HT |
HOMETOWN |
| 2 |
G/F |
Jr. |
6' 0" |
Upper Marlboro, MD |
|
| 3 |
G |
Sr. |
6' 0" |
China, TX |
|
| 4 |
G |
Soph. |
6' 2" |
Clarksburg, MD |
|
| 5 |
G |
Fr. |
6' 0" |
Providence, UT |
|
| 12 |
F |
Jr. |
6' 3" |
Charles Town, WV |
|
| 13 |
F |
Jr. |
6' 4" |
Chicago, IL |
|
| 15 |
G |
Sr. |
5' 11" |
Port Colborne, ON |
|
| 21 |
C |
Fr. |
6' 4" |
San Antonio, TX |
|
| 22 |
G |
Sr. |
5' 9" |
Boston, MA |
|
| 25 |
G |
Fr. |
6' 0" |
Bergen |
|
| 35 |
F |
Soph. |
6' 2" |
Toronto, ON |
|
| 42 |
G |
Sr. |
5' 11" |
Coto de Caza, CA |
|
| 53 |
G |
Sr. |
5' 6" |
Gaithersburg, MD |
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA women return to Final Four with comeback victory over Duke
