INDIANAPOLIS — 4 days after revealing to one another what they might do higher throughout a players-only movie session, the UCLA Bruins discovered a couple of extra speaking factors.
Their turnover-plagued, bad-shot-taking offense was disjointed. Their protection was weak. Their lead over what was imagined to be a closely overmatched opponent was shaky.
Thankfully, they might depend on what continues to be a formidable components. All they needed to do was get the ball to Lauren Betts.
UCLA’s heart made the performs her staff wanted on each ends of the court docket Friday night time at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the course of the second-seeded Bruins’ 85-74 victory over Tenth-seeded Nebraska in a Massive Ten girls’s basketball match quarterfinal.
Overpowering the Cornhuskers inside with layups and put-backs whereas additionally overwhelming them defensively, Betts rolled up 28 factors on 11-for-15 capturing to go along with 13 rebounds, seven blocked photographs, 5 assists and three steals to assist UCLA bounce again from its deflating loss to USC on Sunday.
Gamers known as a gathering the subsequent morning to debate how they wanted to enhance, and level guard Kiki Rice stated the staff responded with one in all its greatest practices in current months. However that crisp play didn’t carry over towards the Cornhuskers.
UCLA confirmed an overreliance on three-pointers, making simply six of 29 photographs from past the arc, and had bother sustaining momentum. The Bruins may need been in deep trouble if ahead Gabriela Jaquez didn’t present a powerful complement to Betts with 23 factors and 9 rebounds.
Extra introspection is likely to be wanted after UCLA (28-2) superior to a Saturday semifinal, the place it should face both third-seeded Ohio State or Eleventh-seeded Iowa.
Betts was virtually unstoppable each time she touched the ball. She drew a lot consideration on one possession halfway by way of the fourth quarter that she handed out of the put up to a wide-open Rice, who buried a three-pointer to push the Bruins’ lead into double digits. The subsequent time Betts obtained the ball, she turned to attain and was fouled, roaring as she pumped her arms in celebration.
Guard Britt Prince scored 24 factors for the Cornhuskers (21-11), who shot 48.4% to the Bruins’ 44.1% however dedicated 4 extra turnovers and grabbed 12 fewer rebounds.
UCLA was lucky to carry a 41-39 halftime lead given the best way the sport was trending.
After Nebraska rolled off seven consecutive factors to open the second quarter, Bruins coach Cori Shut known as timeout however couldn’t cease her staff’s sloppy play.
Amongst UCLA’s six turnovers within the second quarter had been Rice (14 factors, 9 assists) throwing a nasty move that was stolen and barreling into Callin Hake for a charging name. Shut turned to freshman Elina Aarnisalo to run the offense for the ultimate 7½ minutes of the second quarter.
Even with Betts and Jaquez combining for 27 factors within the first half on an nearly good nine-for-11 capturing, Nebraska discovered sufficient counters to surge right into a 39-38 lead late within the second quarter on Prince’s three-pointer.
Betts made certain the Bruins had been on high at halftime by scoring on a put-back and blocking a shot by Alex Markowski with 4 seconds left within the second quarter.
UCLA found that what it wanted Friday was one thing it already had.
