Lauren Bates had 16 points and made a big block in the final minutes, and UCLA withstood a late charge from Texas on Friday night to win 51-44 and reach the national championship game of the NCAA women’s tournament for the first time.
After being upset by eventual national champion UConn in their first Final Four a year ago, the Bruins (36–1) capped off the best season in program history with another dominant run to the national semifinals.
The chance to appear in the first national championship game went to the only team to beat them this season.
Prevailing in the first meeting, the Bruins upset Texas (35-4), blowing a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter behind All-American Madison Booker.
The Longhorns are one of the best defensive teams in the country and flexed their defense during a 12-2 run that cut UCLA’s lead to 47-44.
Bates stopped the Texas race.
She blocked Booker’s shot with 20 seconds left and Kiki Rice hit two free throws, sending coach Corey Close’s team into the title game.
The impressive win clinched the Bruins’ berth in Sunday’s title game against South Carolina, the three-time defending national champion, ending defending champion UConn’s undefeated season and angering Huskies coach Geno Auriemma.
So was Booker after a brutal end to what was otherwise a great season. She hit her first shot, missed the next 17 and finished with six points on 3-of-23 shooting.
