TAMPA, Fla. — Passes glanced off their fingers. Rebounds squirted out of bounds. The brilliant lights of a historic season blinded UCLA on the most important stage.
Connecticut, showing in its sixteenth Last 4 within the final 17 NCAA tournaments, performed like a group used to this second, dominating UCLA 85-51 within the Last 4 at Amalie Enviornment on Friday. The Bruins (34-3) regarded nothing just like the group that earned the event’s No. 1 total seed.
Taking part in in its first NCAA Last 4, UCLA turned the ball over 19 occasions. Though star heart Lauren Betts muscled up 26 factors on 11-of-18 taking pictures, the Bruins made simply 4 three-pointers on 16 makes an attempt. UConn star Paige Bueckers had a quiet 16 factors — together with simply six within the first half — however the Bruins nonetheless fell behind by 20 at halftime, equaling the most important deficit they confronted all season, as a result of Azzi Fudd and Sarah Robust dominated with 19 and 22 factors, respectively.
UCLA’s season — which featured a college report for wins, this system’s first No. 1 NCAA event seed and the primary look in a nationwide semifinal since 1979 — felt charmed after the Bruins bounced again from a humiliating loss to USC at dwelling. They exorcised their rivalry demons by defeating the Trojans within the Large Ten event for his or her first convention event championship since 2006. They lastly overcame the Candy 16 hurdle that tripped them up 5 occasions beneath Shut. They acquired revenge in opposition to Louisiana State to make faculty historical past and attain Tampa.
However they left their magic 3,000 miles away in Washington.
UCLA turned the ball over on the opening possession as Londynn Jones botched a easy move towards Angela Dugalic. Fudd banked in a three-pointer within the first quarter. UCLA’s Timea Gardiner had a three-pointer roll across the inside the rim and come out.
Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers controls the ball in entrance of UCLA’s Lauren Betts, left, and Gabriela Jaquez through the first half of the Last 4 on Friday.
(John Raoux / Related Press)
UCLA’s bench couldn’t assist swing the momentum.
After freshman Elina Aarnisalo’s turnover became a fastbreak layup for Kaitlyn Chen that put the Huskies up 39-22 with 1:32 remaining within the second quarter, UCLA coach Cori Shut gestured desperately to the referee for a timeout. However earlier than Shut might debrief with gamers, Kiki Rice pulled her teammates into a good huddle. The purpose guard shouted towards her teammates whereas coaches huddled collectively individually.
Rice, Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Jones determine to be cornerstones of a group that’s nonetheless firmly in its championship window. Each participant has eligibility to return subsequent yr.
Betts, whose switch to UCLA final season propelled the Bruins into nationwide championship contenders, checked out within the ultimate two minutes with tears welling in her eyes as she gave her teammates excessive fives. She buried her face in a towel on the bench.
