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UCLA players celebrate at Mortgage Matchup Center Friday as they clinch a spot in the Women’s Final Four championship game. (Photo by Janes Reyes\/ Cronkite News) <\/p>\nPHOENIX \u2013 Before UCLA took the court against Texas in the second Women\u2019s Final Four matchup, Bruins coach Cori Close preached the importance of one facet of her team\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has to be our defense that has to be our anchor,\u201d Close said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Close\u2019s words proved prophetic. Defense was the name of the game in the Bruins\u2019 51-44 victory against the Longhorns. The 95 combined points marked the third-lowest scoring game in Women’s Final Four history. The game also set a record for the lowest-scoring half in Final Four history, with only 37 combined points at halftime.<\/p>\n
Defense was the anchor for both teams. The Bruins just did it a little better, holding Texas to a season-low 44 points on 30.8% shooting from the field. That and a heroic performance from Lauren Betts helped UCLA advance to the NCAA women\u2019s national championship game, although the Bruins did win the AIAW Large College championship in 1978.\u00a0<\/p>\n
UCLA will face South Carolina for the title on Sunday.<\/p>\n
UCLA players celebrate at Mortgage Matchup Center Friday as they clinch a spot in the Women’s Final Four championship game. (Photo by Janes Reyes\/ Cronkite News) <\/p>\n
\u201cI think they had 21 more shots than we did on the goal,\u201d Close said of Texas. \u201cThat’s how good our defense was. We did it with toughness, togetherness and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Betts stepped up big time on the nation\u2019s largest stage, notching her thirddouble-double of the Women\u2019s NCAA Tournament with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount she draws in on offense helps us all,\u201d Bruins guard Gianna Kneepkens said. \u201cBecause you can go one-on-one, but I don’t know. That’s a choice if you want to make it. If they double, she’ll kick it out because she’s a great passer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two moments illustrated Betts\u2019 gritty performance against the Longhorns.<\/p>\n
In the second half, Betts hit her head hard on the floor. It took a moment, but she slowly rose and remained in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like when you’re in a situation, you’re playing in the Final Four, your season’s on the line, you’ve got to get over it and keep playing,\u201d Betts said. \u201cThere was no way I was coming out of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second moment came with1:02 left in the game when the Longhorns cut the Bruins lead to 47-44 on a Jordan Lee layup. Betts\u2019 snuffed out the comeback bid with a game-sealing block of Texas forward Madison Booker\u2019s layup attempt. It was Betts\u2019 third block of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy job today was to help in any way I can inside the paint,\u201d Betts said. \u201cAs soon as I saw her getting downhill, I’m like, \u2018\u201cAll right, please block this, just don’t let her score.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Longhorns, despite a strong finish, efficiency struggles throughout the first three quarters proved fatal. Booker struggled throughout the game, finishing with only six points \u2013 her lowest total of the season\u00a0 \u2013 while shooting 13% from the field on 3-for-23 shooting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Reyes_WF4_04032026-11-1024x693.jpg\")
UCLA center Lauren Betts defends against Texas’ Breya Cunningham in the Bruins’ victory in a Women’s Final Four semifinal game Friday. (Photo by Janes Reyes\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n
Texas coach Vic Schaefer and Booker\u2019s teammates defended her off-night shooting.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got to realize, she’s human,\u201d Longhorns guard Rori Harmon said. \u201cShe’s a basketball player. We want her to take those shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly told Maddy, \u2018I don’t care what your statistics look like.\u2019 There was plenty of other things that caused us to lose the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCLA blanketed Booker all night, forcing her into uncomfortable positions.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, she’s an incredible player,\u201d UCLA\u2019s Gianna Kneepkens said. \u201cAll my teammates that played on her \u2026 just did an incredible job pressing up, making those shots difficult. She can hit those. I think we kind of pushed her out a little bit farther and made those very difficult for her.\u201d
At the other end of the floor, Booker, Harmon and the Longhorns turned in a defensive performance that was nearly as dominant as the Bruins\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou ain’t never seen a team at the Final Four play defense like that group did tonight,\u201d Schaefer said. \u201cGuarding people, denying handoffs, all that. They played their hearts out, forced 23 turnovers, held the team to 51.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCLA was able to pull out the win despite being outshot by 21 attempts and turning the ball over 23 times to Texas\u2019 12. With the win, the Bruins avenged their only loss of the season, a 76-65 loss to Texas on Nov. 26 in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s really all about toughness at this point and finding a way to make a winning play,\u201d Close said. \u201cEven if it’s a winning play you wouldn’t have predicted or chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schaefer felt the game eluded Texas\u2019 grasp despite some decent looks and more shot attempts.
\u201cWe had plenty of looks at the cup that we just missed,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, we just missed shots. I don’t have an explanation for it.\u201d
Texas\u2019 season ended in the Final Four for the second straight season, but Schaefer said this game stung more than last year due to its hard-fought nature.<\/p>\n
“I have no idea why the good Lord picked tonight for us to not be able to make a shot,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we feel like in our locker room, we let one get away. I think this one will haunt me as the coach for probably ’til the day I die.”<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Our anchor\u2019: Defense, Lauren Betts lead UCLA past Texas in Women\u2019s Final Four<\/p>\n
Parker Porrill, Cronkite News
\nApril 4, 2026<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2013 Before UCLA took the court against Texas in the second Women\u2019s Final Four matchup, Bruins coach Cori Close preached the importance of one facet of her team\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has to be our defense that has to be our anchor,\u201d Close said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Close\u2019s words proved prophetic. Defense was the name of the game in the Bruins\u2019 51-44 victory against the Longhorns. The 95 combined points marked the third-lowest scoring game in Women’s Final Four history. The game also set a record for the lowest-scoring half in Final Four history, with only 37 combined points at halftime.<\/p>\n
Defense was the anchor for both teams. The Bruins just did it a little better, holding Texas to a season-low 44 points on 30.8% shooting from the field. That and a heroic performance from Lauren Betts helped UCLA advance to the NCAA women\u2019s national championship game, although the Bruins did win the AIAW Large College championship in 1978.\u00a0<\/p>\n
UCLA will face South Carolina for the title on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they had 21 more shots than we did on the goal,\u201d Close said of Texas. \u201cThat’s how good our defense was. We did it with toughness, togetherness and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Betts stepped up big time on the nation\u2019s largest stage, notching her thirddouble-double of the Women\u2019s NCAA Tournament with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount she draws in on offense helps us all,\u201d Bruins guard Gianna Kneepkens said. \u201cBecause you can go one-on-one, but I don’t know. That’s a choice if you want to make it. If they double, she’ll kick it out because she’s a great passer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two moments illustrated Betts\u2019 gritty performance against the Longhorns.<\/p>\n
In the second half, Betts hit her head hard on the floor. It took a moment, but she slowly rose and remained in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like when you’re in a situation, you’re playing in the Final Four, your season’s on the line, you’ve got to get over it and keep playing,\u201d Betts said. \u201cThere was no way I was coming out of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second moment came with1:02 left in the game when the Longhorns cut the Bruins lead to 47-44 on a Jordan Lee layup. Betts\u2019 snuffed out the comeback bid with a game-sealing block of Texas forward Madison Booker\u2019s layup attempt. It was Betts\u2019 third block of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy job today was to help in any way I can inside the paint,\u201d Betts said. \u201cAs soon as I saw her getting downhill, I’m like, \u2018\u201cAll right, please block this, just don’t let her score.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Longhorns, despite a strong finish, efficiency struggles throughout the first three quarters proved fatal. Booker struggled throughout the game, finishing with only six points \u2013 her lowest total of the season\u00a0 \u2013 while shooting 13% from the field on 3-for-23 shooting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Texas coach Vic Schaefer and Booker\u2019s teammates defended her off-night shooting.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got to realize, she’s human,\u201d Longhorns guard Rori Harmon said. \u201cShe’s a basketball player. We want her to take those shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly told Maddy, \u2018I don’t care what your statistics look like.\u2019 There was plenty of other things that caused us to lose the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCLA blanketed Booker all night, forcing her into uncomfortable positions.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, she’s an incredible player,\u201d UCLA\u2019s Gianna Kneepkens said. \u201cAll my teammates that played on her \u2026 just did an incredible job pressing up, making those shots difficult. She can hit those. I think we kind of pushed her out a little bit farther and made those very difficult for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the other end of the floor, Booker, Harmon and the Longhorns turned in a defensive performance that was nearly as dominant as the Bruins\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou ain’t never seen a team at the Final Four play defense like that group did tonight,\u201d Schaefer said. \u201cGuarding people, denying handoffs, all that. They played their hearts out, forced 23 turnovers, held the team to 51.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCLA was able to pull out the win despite being outshot by 21 attempts and turning the ball over 23 times to Texas\u2019 12. With the win, the Bruins avenged their only loss of the season, a 76-65 loss to Texas on Nov. 26 in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s really all about toughness at this point and finding a way to make a winning play,\u201d Close said. \u201cEven if it’s a winning play you wouldn’t have predicted or chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schaefer felt the game eluded Texas\u2019 grasp despite some decent looks and more shot attempts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had plenty of looks at the cup that we just missed,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, we just missed shots. I don’t have an explanation for it.\u201d
\nTexas\u2019 season ended in the Final Four for the second straight season, but Schaefer said this game stung more than last year due to its hard-fought nature.<\/p>\n
“I have no idea why the good Lord picked tonight for us to not be able to make a shot,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we feel like in our locker room, we let one get away. I think this one will haunt me as the coach for probably ’til the day I die.”<\/p>\n
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.<\/p>\n
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